Summer 2025 Watermark Magazine: Laying the Foundation by BCWWA

Measure Twice, Cut Once: BC Operators Test Skills in the Operator Challenge

Navigating the Heat and Hazards for Rural Water Workers

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Articles do not necessarily re ect the opinions of the BCWWA.

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MICHELLE REVESZ

BCWWA

President

THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS: STRENGTHENING OUR WATER INDUSTRY

Our utilities are under increasing pressure to meet the needs of growing communities while adapting to climate change.

Aﬀordability and workforce challenges impact every facet of our industry, making it clear that no single entity can tackle these issues alone. However, by fostering partnerships across industries and diﬀerent levels of government, we can start identifying and implementing meaningful solutions.

Recently, Metro Vancouver convened industry partners to address operational workforce challenges. Three key concerns emerged:

1. Recruitment & Retention – Attracting and retaining skilled professionals in a competitive job market.

2. Meeting Continuing Education Requirements – Ensuring operators have access to quality training and certification.

3. Awareness of Career Opportunities in the Water Sector – Increasing visibility and engagement to strengthen the future workforce.

Addressing these challenges requires industrywide collaboration. To support operators with continuing education, the BCWWA has expanded online learning opportunities in partnership with educators, institutions and EOCP to ensure courses align with industry needs.

Raising awareness of careers in the water sector is a shared responsibility. Organizations such as the BCWWA, American Water Works Association (AWWA), Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) play a critical role in promoting industry opportunities, but grassroots engagement matters too. Attending career fairs and participating in outreach eﬀorts can introduce students and job seekers to the vital work our industry performs and build public appreciation for water professionals.

Successful partnerships also extend beyond workforce development. Collaboration with

PARTNERSHIPS ARE MORE THAN A NECESSITY; THEY ARE THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND INNOVATION, RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS OUR INDUSTRY AND CONTRIBUTE TO BUILDING A STRONGER, MORE CONNECTED FUTURE.

Indigenous knowledge holders is helping improve climate adaptation strategies, such as selecting native plants for green infrastructure projects. Meanwhile, cross-industry partnerships are driving innovation. The adoption of AI tools for optimizing water treatment operations, including coagulation dosing, is made possible through teamwork among operators, engineers, data scientists and IT specialists.

At this year’s BCWWA 53rd Annual Conference & Trade Show in Victoria, BC, keynote speaker Geoﬀ Green shared his experience developing the Student on Ice (SOI) program – an initiative designed to expose youth to awe-inspiring environmental experiences that shape their perspectives, ideas and futures. This model oﬀers valuable lessons for our industry; by supporting and partnering with organizations that inspire young professionals, we can help shape the next generation of water leaders.

BCWWA’s 2025-2027 Strategic Plan reflects the importance of collaboration, with its four guiding principles: Education, Networking, Advocacy and Organizational Sustainability. The first three priorities directly support the strengthening of industry partnerships –breaking barriers, encouraging learning and innovation, sharing successes and lessons and advocating for progress.

Partnerships are more than a necessity; they are the driving force behind innovation, resilience and sustainability. I encourage you to foster relationships across our industry and contribute to building a stronger, more connected future.

LEE COONFER

BCWWA CEO

LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR CONTINUED SUCCESS

The foundation of any endeavour, whether it be constructing a new water main, developing public policy or operationalizing strategic objectives, is building the structural support needed for optimal success. You need to do it right or it will fail. Period.

At the BCWWA, methodically and thoughtfully laying the foundation of what we do, how we do it and when we should do it is a critical piece of our recent Strategic Plan. As you may recall, BCWWA has identified four strategic priorities of Education, Networking, Advocacy and Organizational Sustainability that will guide the association to serve the interests of our members and the water sector as a whole. As we enter the halfway mark of a busy 2025, I’d like to share with our members what we are doing to ensure the structural integrity of our Strategic Plan.

A long-standing service provision of the BCWWA has been its education program. Training and preparing water practitioners is what we’ve done for over 40 years and has been foundational in ensuring a safe and secure drinking water environment for all. In light of new Need-toKnow (NKT) criteria from Water Professionals International and certification exam changes from the Environmental Operators Certification Program (EOCP), we are working closely with subject-matter experts to revise and align our content and ensure top industry standards and innovative practices. As part of our DEI commitment, we are also looking at enhancing accessibility within our course delivery.

For those of you who were able to attend our Yukon workshop in Whitehorse or the recent annual conference in Victoria, thank you, and I hope you enjoyed yourself. The BCWWA hosts the largest water sector conference in western Canada and, in my opinion, and of those who filled out our survey, we do it well. As they say: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. But how do we make a good thing better? Your feedback has told us to look at expanding program oﬀerings to include speakers of interest, elected officials and to showcase the water sector itself. Some strides

A LONG-STANDING SERVICE PROVISION OF THE BCWWA HAS BEEN ITS EDUCATION PROGRAM. TRAINING AND PREPARING

WATER PRACTITIONERS IS WHAT WE’VE DONE FOR OVER 40 YEARS AND HAS BEEN FOUNDATIONAL IN ENSURING A SAFE AND SECURE DRINKING WATER ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL.

have already begun. During the Yukon workshop, we had the Honourable Richard Mostyn, Minister of Community Services, provide delegates with an overview of the Yukon Government’s priorities for the water sector. At our annual conference, we reintroduced the Operator Challenge to highlight the meaningful work of water sector operators, held our annual tap water taste test celebrating water quality in BC and Yukon communities and scheduled BC Premier David Eby as our Lunch Speaker (who was unable to attend due to an emerging event). These connections have enhanced our program’s oﬀering and appeal while still being informative and valuable. Again, in keeping with our DEI commitments, we continue to look for opportunities to provide accessible and empowering experiences for our members, such as community of practice meetings and webinar oﬀerings.

Although it has been something BCWWA has done on the margins for years, advocacy, outreach and engagement is now a strategic

priority. The BCWWA represents a significant voice in all things water, from public health and infrastructure needs to climate change resilience. Since my arrival as CEO, BCWWA has been working to ensure that there is an understanding within governments, community stakeholder groups and the public of who the BCWWA is, what we do and on whose behalf we do it. These eﬀorts will soon expand to include other sectors that impact water usage and quality, such as mining, forestry and agriculture. Organizational sustainability is a multifaceted priority. Internally, it means that we have the right people doing the right job at the right time to support our members. Externally, it refers to our commitment to oﬀer programs and services that our members need and want and overall enrich the member experience. At the end of the day, you need a good foundation for anything that you do. Rest assured, here at the BCWWA, we are paying particular attention to ensuring our foundation is sound.

BCWWA NEWS

BCWWA ATTENDS METRO VANCOUVER UPDATED DRINKING WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN

On June 4, BCWWA directors and staﬀ, along with the EOCP, BCIT, regional utility managers, training providers, educators and other stakeholders, met with Metro Vancouver staﬀ to provide feedback regarding one of the plan’s priority areas of operational workforce development.

The updated Metro Vancouver Drinking Water Management Plan will set the strategic direction for the region’s drinking water over the next 10 years. The workshop provided an opportunity for stakeholders within the Metro Vancouver network to share feedback, strategies and ideas on how to grow and retain a robust and skilled operator workforce to ensure service delivery and maintain resilient and sustainable water systems. We look forward to further contributing to this discussion and sharing new updates with our water community.

CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT, DISTRICT OF HOPE AND TOWN OF QUALICUM BEACH AWARDED BEST TASTING TAP WATER

It is no surprise that high-quality drinking water is renowned across western Canada, from British Columbia to the Yukon. At the 2025 BCWWA

Annual Conference & Trade Show, 11 communities put it to the test in a friendly competition to see who has the best drinking water. Three communities won in three divisions: Capital Regional District (Large Water System), District of Hope (Medium Water System) and Town of Qualicum Beach (Small Water System). Samples were categorized in response to feedback from members and water experts and in an eﬀort to recognize the full scope of water systems and treatment processes that exist for every size of community. A panel of judges, including the Mayor of Victoria, Marianne Alto, evaluated the samples through a blind taste test based on appearance, aroma, taste, mouth feel, aftertaste and overall impression.

BCWWA RELEASES STATEMENT OF DEI COMMITMENT

As an Association with a long history of representing water professionals from across the regions of BC and the Yukon, we recognize the rich diversity of this community, which encompasses a wide range of ages, languages and abilities.

Last year, we undertook a comprehensive consultation and ideation process to develop our 2025-2027 Strategic Plan. It became clear that the fundamental vision and mission of the BCWWA cannot be accomplished without recognizing our values as service-driven, inclusive and dedicated to innovation and growth in the industry. To act on these values, we have created a Statement of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in consultation with Canadian Equality Consulting. The purpose of this statement is to demonstrate our commitment as an organization to real, actionbased outcomes toward DEI, including a strong focus on accessibility, representation across geographies and job roles in the sector and to foster a culture of safety, respect and continuous learning.

View our DEI statement: bcwwa.org/site/about/dei?nav=sidebar

BCWWA EVENTS CALENDAR

Please note that this calendar is for informational purposes only and may be subject to change. Please contact the event host directly for further information.

2025 DATES

September 14–17, 2025

September 22–24, 2025

September 22–26, 2025

September 27–October 1, 2025

October 6–7, 2025

October 7–9, 2025

October 20–22, 2025

November 2–5, 2025

AWWA Water Infrastructure Conference & Exposition Orlando, FL

EOCP Annual Education Sessions and Tradeshow Richmond, BC

UBCM 2025 Convention Victoria, BC

WEFTEC 2025 Chicago, IL

PWABC & BCMSA (JAC) Joint Conference Whistler, BC

AWWA WaterSmart Innovations Reno, NV

WCWWA Canadian Residuals & Biosolids Conference Winnipeg, MB

CWWA National Water and Wastewater Conference 2025 Victoria, BC

November 5–6, 2025 2025 AMBC Conference Richmond, BC

November 9–12, 2025

November 18–19, 2025

April 29 – May 1, 2026

AWWA Water Quality Technologies Conference (WQTC) Tacoma, WA

SCADA & OT Conference & Trade Show New Westminster, BC

BCWWA 2026 Annual Conference & Trade Show Penticton, BC

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THE WATERLINE

The latest water industry news, brought to you by the BCWWA

CAPITAL REGION, QUALICUM BEACH JUDGED TO HAVE BEST-TASTING TAP WATER IN B.C.

The capital region and Qualicum Beach can now officially lay claim to having the best drinking water in the province. Close to a hundred people packed a meeting room in the Victoria Conference Centre in late April to watch a panel of judges sip water to determine which tap water system was the ‘best of the best.’ Water professionals from a dozen communities across BC lugged two-litre samples of water to Victoria for the April 29 event put on by the BC Water & Waste Association, a non-profit that represents more than 4,500 people in the water sector.

Source: Times Colonist, May 21, 2025. Photo credit: Darren Stone/Times Colonist

NEW

WATER-MONIT

ORING

PROGRAM COULD SAVE 1.5 BILLION LITRES A YEAR

Homeowners and businesses in rural British Columbia will soon benefit from new water meters that will help small communities save water and increase resiliency during droughts, while lowering costs for people who use less water. Nineteen small, rural and First Nations communities will benefit from nearly 15,000 new automated water meters that will be installed. Provincial funding will cover up to 100% of eligible costs. The meters are part of a pilot program to help small communities and local water suppliers track and manage water use and mitigate the impact of drought, while giving people confidence that they are only paying for what they use. Once installed, the meters can help reduce water use by up to 30%. That means more water stays in rivers and lakes to support fish and ecosystems, with less money spent on building new water systems.

Source: BC Gov News, May 6, 2025

CITY OF FERNIE PURSUING NEW WASTEWATER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY

The City of Fernie is undertaking new research on an eco-friendly technology that could be used as a filtration system at the local wastewater treatment plant.

In May, Fernie city council voted to research a technology known as microbial soil reed beds (MSR), an engineered wetland treatment system that utilizes reed beds to help filter wastewater. Going forward, the City will investigate the lifecycle cost and operational impact of MSR technology and do a side-by-side comparison with another treatment technology known as Submerged Attached Growth Reactor (SAGR), which the City has already researched. Years ago, Fernie’s wastewater treatment facility was found to be out of compliance with provincial regulations, and the technology the City is researching would help bring it back in line.

Source: The Free Press, June 2, 2025. Photo credit: Scott Tibballs/The Free Press

MEET THE 2025-2026 BCWWA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Each spring, the BCWWA holds an election to engage its members in the process of electing an incoming board. Why do we do this? To ensure that the BCWWA’s governing body continues to value and reflect the diverse voices of our One Water sector as it sets the strategic direction, goals and priorities for the Association. Following the spring 2025 election, the BCWWA confirmed two newly elected directors to the Board: Darcy Dion and Jim Yargeau, and welcomed incoming President Michelle Revesz. As we look forward to another board year, we express our gratitude to all the volunteer directors for their commitment and dedication to the Association.

PRESIDENT

Michelle Revesz

Director, Strategic Infrastructure Initiatives, City of Burnaby

For over 20 years, Michelle has worked as a water-centric engineer with experience in academia, consulting engineering and the public sector. Currently, she is the Director of Strategic Infrastructure Initiatives at the City of Burnaby, where she is responsible for the City’s infrastructure planning and survey teams. Prior to joining the City of Burnaby, Michelle was an associate director at the City of Vancouver, where she spearheaded the development of the sewer, drainage, and flood management planning teams. As a consultant, Michelle specialized in utility planning, flood management and water conservation.

INCOMING DIRECTOR

Darcy Dion, CWP, CWWP

Technical Sales Representative, Clow Canada Darcy Dion has been working in water and wastewater operations for 12 years. She is an EOCP-certified operator in water treatment, wastewater treatment, distribution and collection and holds a level II designation in each discipline. Darcy is also passionate about cross connection control awareness and enforcement and holds CCC Tester Certification through the BCWWA. Having worked in municipal, private and First Nation capacities, Darcy has a firm and dynamic understanding of our unique industry. Darcy’s mission is to ensure operators have the technical support, education and certification necessary to carry out their important work competently and confidently – because our communities depend on it!

INCOMING DIRECTOR

Jim Yargeau

Account Manager, Spartan Controls

With 18 years at Spartan Controls, Jim Yargeau leads a talented team in the water and wastewater sector across BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan to leverage deep industry knowledge to drive strategic goals and initiatives. Building strong bridges across BC with municipal end users and project stakeholders, Jim is passionate about fostering collaboration that leads to innovative solutions. Jim is an excellent communicator and loves to discuss the latest trends in industry and technology over good coﬀee.

PLEASE JOIN US IN WELCOMING THE 2025-2026 BCWWA BOARD OF DIRECTORS!

VICE-PRESIDENT

Brianne Tenk City of Victoria

PAST PRESIDENT

Negin Tousi

David Nairne + Associates Ltd.

DIRECTOR

Siohban Robinson Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Ltd.

AWWA DIRECTOR

Deirdre Moran AECOM

DIRECTOR

Carlos Hunte Metro Vancouver

WEF DELEGATE

Mike Gosselin City of Kelowna

SECRETARYTREASURER/ DIRECTOR

David Houghton AECOM

CWWA DIRECTOR

Ted Molyneux Indigenous Services Canada

THANK YOU, OUTGOING DIRECTORS

We sincerely thank the following individuals for the time, eﬀort and incredible leadership they provided during their volunteer service on the Board. Thank you for all of your contributions.

PAST PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR

Mike Homenuke Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Ltd.

PAST DIRECTOR

Samira Harris Kiewit Corporation

DRINKING WATER COMMITTEE UPDATE: Review on Arsenic in Drinking Water

n March of 2025, Health Canada provided a Guideline Technical Document for arsenic that went out for public consultation. The guideline outlines the available and updated information on arsenic with the intent of revising the guideline value for arsenic in drinking water. The document proposes decreasing the maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) from 0.01 mg/L (10 ug/L) to 0.005 mg/L (5 ug/L).

The health eﬀects the existing technical document from 2006 based the MAC on was the incidence of internal (lung, bladder and liver) cancers in humans. This proposed guideline update was prompted by a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies showing evidence of lung cancer from arsenic through ingestion of drinking water as the most sensitive cancer outcome.

The guideline assesses the health risks associated with inorganic arsenic in drinking water, considering new studies and approaches, as well as the limitations of available treatment technology. It is expected that a significant number of water systems across Canada would incur infrastructure, technology and operating costs to meet the proposed guideline, aﬀecting especially small communities with limited resources. The proposed MAC also considers limitations in municipal-and residential-scale treatment technologies associated with achieving arsenic concentrations in drinking water at or below the health-based value and with a recommendation that every eﬀort should be made to reduce arsenic levels in drinking water to as low as reasonably achievable.

BCWWA’s Drinking Water Technical Advisory Committee, Drinking Water Community of Practice and members from the BCWWA Regulatory Response Taskforce reviewed the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality, Arsenic and have provided comments to Health Canada.

Our members identified several key themes for consideration by Health Canada:

• Support for minimizing arsenic exposure: respondents generally supported minimizing exposure to arsenic to improve public health, and agree that concentrations should be kept as low as reasonably achievable; however, there were some questions about the lack of data demonstrating health impacts below 10 μg/L.

• Concern for treatment costs: members expressed concern that lowering the MAC from 10 to 5 μg/L will impose a financial and technical burden on impacted utilities. It is expected that this burden will fall primarily on small water systems which struggle to finance capital and operational expenditures.

• Limited occurrence data: members also noted a lack of arsenic prevalence data for BC, making it difficult to evaluate the potential impact this change will have on BC residents and municipalities.

• Insufficient guidance: members suggested that the sections focused on arsenic treatment and residuals

(5.2 to 5.5) should be improved to provide clarity on how the potential treatment options for As(III) and As(V) differ and the residuals considerations for each technology. Members also suggested a more complete explanation of the potential implications of arsenic accumulation and release in the distribution system. This information is especially important because of the disproportionate impact lowering the MAC is expected to have on small systems.

• Proofreading and formatting: members noted several proofing and formatting errors that should be addressed before finalizing the document.

BCWWA members support the drive to improve public health by minimizing arsenic exposure in drinking water but urge careful consideration of the technical feasibility and financial impact of the proposed changes – particularly for small water systems.

Work by Health Canada is ongoing in this area, and the BCWWA Drinking Water Committee anticipates that an updated guideline will be put forward by Health Canada in the near future.

If you are interested in providing your own knowledge and experience in future review processes, please reach out to the BCWWA Event & Member Engagement Coordinator, Katie Patrao, at kpatrao@bcwwa.org and consider joining the Drinking Water Community of Practice.

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BC Operators Test Skills in the Operator Challenge MEASURE TWICE, CUT

On a cheerful spring day in Victoria, BC, the chatter of a growing crowd floated through the second-floor halls of the Victoria Conference Centre. In the centre of the room, two tables stood in a perpendicular arrangement, each with a piece of aqua-coloured eight-inch PVC pipe strapped to the top. Teams consisting of three operators, each representing a municipality in BC, encircled the tables of pipe to learn about the materials they were about to work with and start preparing their tools and practice cutting pipe. The 2025 BCWWA Operator Challenge had begun.

Also known as the ‘Top Ops,’ the Operator Challenge has been a staple at BCWWA’s Annual Conference & Trade Show for as long as the conference has been running. It is a unique opportunity for top water and wastewater operators in BC and the Yukon to showcase their technical skills, teamwork abilities and industry knowledge in a fun, fast-paced competition. The format mirrors operator challenges hosted by other water sector associations, such as the Water Environment Federation (WEF)’s Operations Challenge held annually at WEFTEC and inviting hundreds of operators from across the United States and worldwide to test a wide range of operator skills and knowledge.

On a smaller scale, the BCWWA Operator Challenge kicked oﬀ the first day of the 2025 annual conference and trade show in Victoria. After a brief hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Operator Challenge was emphatically welcomed back to the conference schedule by operators and delegates alike as an opportunity to get a glimpse of the essential work operators do every day to ensure our water and wastewater systems stay safe and reliable.

At the helm of this year’s competition is Dan Deacon, an operations supervisor with Metro Vancouver Liquid Waste Services and instructor with BCWWA Education. Watermark asked Dan about setting up this year’s challenge and why it is important for operators to get involved. “It's a great event that allows operators from around the province to show oﬀ some of the skills and abilities that they need to keep our water and sewer systems running, from delivering drinking water to cleaning our wastewater and putting it back into the environment,” says Dan. “It’s important that we

acknowledge operators and what they do every day. That doesn’t always happen, and I think this event is a really good opportunity to do that.”

HOW IT WORKS

The competition welcomed four teams this year, including operators from the Capital Regional District (CRD), City of Victoria, District of Lillooet and a team comprising of operators from the Nanoose and Neskonlith First Nations. The operators were tasked with two main events: the Pipe Repair Challenge and ‘Test the Waters’ Trivia.

The Pipe Repair Challenge is essentially a simulated pipe break. In this instance, simulating a sewer pipe break that has been ‘damaged,’ in which a crack line is drawn down the pipe. The other pipe is used for the repair. Teams are shown what materials they will be working with, and then they get a few minutes to warm up and prep their tools. To complete the timed

Dan Deacon, operations supervisor at Metro Vancouver, briefs operators at the 2025 Operator Challenge.

MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE: BC Operators Test Skills in the Operator Challenge

challenge, teams must measure the pipe, hand cut both pieces, fit the pipe with rubber repair couplings and replace the broken section with a brand-new piece.

“It is technically challenging for a couple of reasons,” says Dan. “First, the repair is timed and done in front of a crowd. This really dials up the pressure on teams. Second, they can only use hand tools in the repair, which is not typically done today as power tools are used. Hand tools used to be all we had, so using them in the event is a little blast from the past for operators and increases the physical part of the work as well.”

Having three operators on each team was also intentional. For one, many larger municipalities, such as those on the lower mainland, mostly consist of three-person teams due to specific job requirements. In the case of the Operator Challenge, this works well as the workload for the pipe repair necessitates three operators as it is a physically demanding task and multiple cuts need to be drilled into the pipe. As the event evolves, Dan continues, more pieces and workload can be added.

Following the Pipe Repair Challenge, teams also competed in a trivia challenge. The trivia challenge is based on content from operator certification exams, particularly level 1, 2 and 3 courses. It is an opportunity to test operators on their knowledge and understanding of the technical application of running a safe and environmentally responsible system rather than just focusing on hands-on skills.

ALL ABOUT SAFETY

During the challenge, judges are present to observe operators and decide which team will be awarded first place. During the trivia portion, it is based on the number of answers each team gets correct. But the pipe-cutting event, says Dan, is largely based on preventing safety infractions. “At the very end, we look at the tightness of the repair and the quality of work. But safety in the worksite in general is paramount and we want to ensure this is emphasized at the event.”

Operators from the Capital Regional District accept their trophy from BCWWA CEO Lee Coonfer, Director Darcy Dion and sponsor Paul D. Bishop, Water Professionals International.

Darcy Dion, Clow Canada and BCWWA Board Director, takes an answer from an operator team during the trivia portion.

Dan Deacon and Kyle McBeth, City of Coquitlam, observe the pipe-cutting challenge.

A big thank you to all the competing teams and to Dan Deacon, Darcy Dion, Kyle McBeth, Lee Coonfer, Janette Blahova and Sarita Gautam for all their support of the Operator Challenge. A big thank you to Water Professionals International for sponsoring this year’s event and the EOCP for sponsoring the First Nations team.

Thisyear’soperatorteamsfromCapitalRegionalDistrict(CRD),CityofVictoria,DistrictofLillooetandateamcomprisingofoperatorsfromtheNanooseandNeskonlithFirstNations.

Notably, the challenge included a renewed focus on tailboards this year. Tailboarding is a pre-work discussion for everyone involved in an operations job. It includes a full explanation of each role, from the supervisor to the excavator operator, what will happen and how it will happen. It is a safety requirement that operators should do anytime they start to work on a project, and it is an industry-standard set by WorkSafe BC. “We noticed in the field that while tailboards were being done, they were not very detailed,” explains Dan. “This is an important part of the job as you need to understand exactly what you need to do onsite. This is a lot safer than guessing and then walking straight into the boom of an excavator. If you know what to expect, you will do a better and safer job.”

WHAT’S NEXT

Upon finishing the trivia, the Capital Regional District (CRD) team, made up of local operators Luke Chamberlin, Steve O'Keefe and Simon Chettleburgh, held up their champion hats and a plaque in victory after being named the 2025 champions. Overall, it was a thrilling challenge that gave us a glimpse into the life of an operator that many of us don’t often see. It is often a difficult job that requires operators to battle the elements and deal with ever-changing conditions.

Dan, who has spent many years participating in operator challenges, knows this all too well. Now in his first year of organizing the Operator Challenge, he has a spark of excitement for what is next. More challenges, diﬀerent scenarios, more teams? As Dan says, we’re bringing it back, breathing new life into it and moving forward.

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NAVIGATING THE HEAT AND HAZARDS FOR RURAL WATER WORKERS, AND HOW TO PREVENT FUTURE RISKS

By Gen Handley, SafetyLine Lone Worker

There are many British Columbians and Yukoners who live in rural areas. According to the most recent government statistics, there are more than six million Canadians who make their homes in rural areas, making up about 20 percent of the nation’s population. Living away from the city has benefits like increased peace and quiet as well as a lower cost of living. However, when making your home in a rural part of the province, you might also face challenges such as easy access to amenities like healthcare, internet access and even water and electricity.

To make sure all these people continue to receive clean water in their communities, private water utilities, companies and wells exist around the province where they access this fundamental resource. To ensure access to water is maintained, there are a number of workers who are travelling throughout the province to remote areas, performing a range of jobs and roles that include water (wastewater, stormwater) inspectors, water samplers, field technicians, hydrologists, maintenance workers, water monitoring specialists and well and groundwater inspectors.

During the warmer summer months, rural water workers can face several internal and external occupational hazards that are not

only notable due to the high temperatures, but attributable to their mobile, solitary circumstances as well. When travelling to and working alone in rural communities and areas of BC, these employees are in higher-risk environments where help is limited, if accessible at all, during emergencies and accidents. Simple work mishaps like trips and falls can evolve into major emergencies because there isn’t a coworker available to provide help. This includes heat hazards during the summer and reminding your coworker to take a hydration break if the temperatures are high that day. This is on top of making sure that regulatory requirements are being managed and met – that compliance standards are successfully satisfied so that both employees and the organization are safe.

INTERNAL OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS

There are occupational hazards that are visible, such as tripping dangers, but there are internal work hazards that are invisible and less obvious, requiring as much, if not more, monitoring and attention.

HEAT STRESS

When performing repairs on infrastructure such as pipes and water treatment systems in the direct sun, lone water workers are at serious

risk of heat stress. This occupational hazard is difficult to detect due to the fact that it can slowly catch the worker oﬀ guard, leading to a number of heat-related illnesses, including heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

DEHYDRATION

One of the benefits of working with coworkers during the summer is that they keep you on a consistent schedule of drinking fluids. However, when alone, it’s easy to forget to hydrate and only focus on the work. The key is to catch dehydration before it occurs and know the early signs so that workers can be reminded to drink fluids regularly. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety says these early signs can include:

• excessive thirst

• dizziness or light-headedness

• headaches

• fatigue or drowsiness

• dry mouth, lips and eyes

• dark yellow urine

ISOLATION

The hazard of isolation can impact the quality of work and job performance as well as the worker’s happiness and mental health. When working in isolation or alone, there are specific

NAVIGATING THE HEAT AND HAZARDS

lone worker hazards and circumstances that must be addressed, such as access to help in an emergency or regular contact with coworkers; workplace loneliness has been associated with lower job performance.

EMOTIONAL STRESS

More specifically, when working for extended periods in isolation, emotional stress can result in locations where contact and communication are limited. In some industries such as healthcare, emotional stress and high rates of burnout negatively impact the quality of care and employee retention can increase the likelihood of occupational errors and accidents due to the reduced focus and clarity.

EXTERNAL OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS

Along with the hidden occupational hazards these workers face, they also must deal with a range of external safety risks that can be unique to water employees performing their diﬀerent jobs alone. But just because external occupational hazards are visible, it does not mean they are easier to control. However, with thorough assessment of what these people face and planning and preparing for what could occur tomorrow, they are manageable.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

The most uncontrollable external hazards in rural water workers’ environment are the weather and meteorological conditions. In the summer, there is more likelihood of large storms and, of

Additionally, during the

TRANSPORTATION HAZARDS

A significant type of occupational hazard when working alone in the heat out in remote, rural areas is moving to an isolated location. During these periods, the workers can experience motor vehicle accidents, mechanical issues, driver fatigue, as well as health issues and emergencies while on the road.

There are many rural BC communities that require this travel from professionals like

water inspectors and technicians, including Indigenous Peoples, located in areas only accessible by resource or forestry roads.

PREVENTION STRATEGIES

To manage the diverse range of hazards faced by remote water workers, employers must take a proactive, prevention-focused approach that aligns with provincial safety regulations. Anticipating risks – rather than reacting after the event – is crucial in remote areas where help may be limited. Because dangers and hazards increase while working alone, implementing eﬀective prevention strategies now can improve worker safety, boost job satisfaction, and benefit the organization over long-term periods.

TRAINING AND EDUCATION

One of the most eﬀective ways to increase employee awareness of hazards and safe working practices is through safety training. It’s a highly engaging strategy to teach employees about new safety skills and knowledge, such as heat stress safety or using new tools and equipment appropriately. Ahead of time, employers can also simply provide their workers with the proper information needed to perform their jobs safely. Don’t require them to complete volumes of OHS reading – just the essential safety information as well as why it matters to their job, like WorkSafe BC’s Preventing Heat Stress at Work booklet.

SAFETY GUIDELINES, PROTOCOLS, AND POLICIES

Before temperatures begin to rise, organizations can develop safety guidelines for their water

course, extreme heat waves, which can aﬀect a person working alone outdoors significantly.

summer, workers can face the threat of local animals and wildlife.

workers to protect them from occupational hazards and heat. They can begin planning protocols for regular water or hydration breaks, requiring the workers to check in and after their shift to confirm their safety, or specific policies addressing the challenges of employees working alone in rural BC areas.

TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS

When travelling alone into rural areas to perform water-related work, workers can be equipped with lone worker monitoring technologies. This category of devices and technology includes wearables and lone worker safety platforms that observe their safety in real-time. WorkSafeBC recommends employers must have a reliable system in place to make sure their lone workers are safe.

LEGAL AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS

BC organizations have specific legal requirements to protect their water workers alone in rural areas. Under WorkSafeBC’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (OHSR), employers must identify potential hazards and implement measures to eliminate or minimize risks for lone workers, developing and implementing a written procedure for checking the safety of these workers, including consistent check-ins. Under the OHSR, employers must conduct a heat stress assessment to determine potential hazards and develop an exposure control plan. During the hot months, employers are required to provide a supply of cool water close to the work area for workers exposed to heat.

Rural water inspectors in the province are primarily protected by the Drinking Water Protection Act and its associated regulations, such as the Public Health Act, Environmental Management Act as well as the Ground Water Protection Regulation

PREPARE AND PLAN

Water industry workers who operate alone in remote or rural areas face a variety of

NAVIGATING THE HEAT AND HAZARDS

safety challenges, both physical and mental. From isolation and fatigue to severe storms and encounters with wildlife, the risks can be significant. By planning ahead and taking proactive measures, employers can help ensure their teams are better prepared for the hazards that often arise during the summer months.

All British Columbians need to have clean, fresh water, and all its workers deserve to have peace of mind knowing they can perform their jobs in these remote areas safely with access to help.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gen Handley is a Marketing and Growth Coordinator for SafetyLine Lone Worker, an automated, cloudbased lone worker monitoring service that helps companies protect remote or isolated workers. Gen has more than 10 years of freelance writing and marketing experience.

Getting More Out of Every Drop

Stantec’s water treatment expertise is reflected in our project design and delivery where treatment efficiency, life-cycle costs, operability, and process integration are key to the success of our projects.

Seymour Capilano Filtration Plant Dry Polymer Upgrades Project, Metro Vancouver. North Vancouver, BC

By Parisa Sarmadi, Ph.D., P.Eng., WSP Canada Inc.

As cities across western Canada continue to grow and diversify, municipal wastewater systems face increasing pressure from a less obvious but increasingly significant source: light industrial facilities. These operations, such as food processors, breweries, commercial laundries and metal workshops, often operate within urban boundaries and are directly connected to public sewer systems. While small in scale compared to heavy industry, they can have an outsized impact on municipal infrastructure.

Unlike domestic wastewater, which is generally consistent and predictable, industrial discharges vary significantly in strength, volume and composition. A single facility may release high levels of biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), oils, metals and solids, depending on the type of operation and time of day. Additionally, temperature and pH fluctuations can disrupt downstream biological treatment processes. Even modest discharges from multiple light industrial sites can cumulatively strain a treatment facility’s capacity, degrade biosolids quality or trigger compliance issues.

LIGHTLY USED WATER, LIKE RINSE WATER OR COOLING WATER, CAN BE REDIRECTED TO TASKS SUCH AS CLEANING, LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION OR EVEN TOILET FLUSHING.

In British Columbia, industrial wastewater discharges are regulated by both provincial and municipal authorities. Larger systems fall under the Environmental Management Act and the Municipal Wastewater Regulation, while smaller systems are governed by the Public Health Act. Municipalities enforce sewer use bylaws, such as Metro Vancouver’s Bylaw No. 299, which defines limits for temperature, pH and specific pollutants. Facilities exceeding these thresholds may require Waste Discharge Permits, mandating pre-treatment, discharge monitoring and ongoing reporting.

Despite these frameworks, enforcement alone is not enough. Proactive engagement, early planning and smart water management strategies are key to reducing light industry’s burden on municipal systems.

One of the most eﬀective approaches is reducing water use at the source. Many facilities still operate under outdated assumptions about water availability and costs. Cleaning and rinsing cycles are often excessive and water-intensive equipment may go unchecked. Simple changes, such as installing low-flow nozzles, upgrading to closed-loop cooling systems or repairing leaks, can lead to substantial reductions in both water consumption and wastewater generation. Reusing water internally also presents major opportunities. Lightly used water, like rinse water or cooling water, can be redirected to tasks such as cleaning, landscape irrigation or even toilet flushing. In some facilities, final rinse water is collected and used in earlier wash stages, reducing total demand without compromising hygiene or efficiency.

Where more robust control is needed, on-site pre-treatment or recycling systems oﬀer a deeper solution. Technologies like oil-water separators, flow equalization tanks and pH adjustment systems can condition wastewater before it enters the sewer. Advanced systems, such as membrane filtration or ultraviolet disinfection, enable facilities to recycle treated water for use in production or cleaning, cutting both discharge volumes and incoming water use.

The food processing sector, a major light industrial contributor in BC, provides a clear example. Facilities in this industry frequently deal with high-strength organic wastewater from production lines and cleaning-in-place systems. By adopting better sequencing, monitoring and treatment strategies, some have reduced water use by up to 30 percent while remaining fully compliant with local discharge requirements.

For municipalities, supporting these eﬀorts is crucial. Early engagement with industrial operators, particularly during planning, permitting or expansion, can help

align expectations and encourage shared responsibility. Municipalities can also benefit from improved monitoring and data analytics, using flow meters or composite sampling to detect high-strength discharges and respond before problems escalate.

Sustainability and resource efficiency are also playing a larger role. Facilities that reduce their water footprint and improve eﬄuent quality are increasingly recognized as responsible operators, not only by regulators but also by customers and investors. The integration of smart sensors, automated controls and realtime reporting is helping industries transition toward more transparent, circular approaches to water management.

In the end, managing the impact of light industrial facilities on wastewater systems is a shared challenge, but also a shared opportunity. With thoughtful planning, clear regulations and a willingness to innovate, municipalities and industries can work together to protect infrastructure, improve

compliance and contribute to more sustainable urban water systems.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Parisa Sarmadi is a professional engineer registered with EGBC with over seven years of experience. She has worked in research, water and wastewater, power generation systems and oil and gas. She has worked on and been responsible for studies, design, and overall technical project management in all these areas. She worked on projects with Schlumberger and SINTEF as a researcher and she worked on projects with Metro Vancouver, Manitoba Hydro, food facilities, VCH, YEC and Caterpillar as a mechanical/lead engineer. She holds PhD in Mechanical Engineering, specializing in complex fluid mechanics. She is passionate about educating young generations in STEM. As a result, she instructed multiple undergraduate courses at UBC and published papers in news and outreach journals.

By Luke Magnall, Operator-In-Training, West Kootenay Region

My Experience at the 2025 WEF/AWWA YP SUMMIT

As a new operator in the field of water treatment, attending the WEF/AWWA Young Professionals (YP) Summit this past February was an opportunity that I could not pass up, and thanks to the BC Water & Waste Association (BCWWA), I didn't have to. My role as an operator means that I am constantly faced with steep learning curves and the many challenges that come from working in a rural water system. Such small water systems often have limited resources and funding for training and education, and I saw the Young Professionals Summit as an opportunity to expand my very limited collegial network, connect with other operators and learn about their experiences in the industry.

Before the Summit truly got underway, I was given the chance to tour one of the water treatment plants in Dallas, Texas, which was an eye-opening experience, to say the least. It's true what they say: everything really is bigger in Texas. Then again, I work at a small water system so pretty much every plant is going to be bigger. However, no matter the size of the plant, the basic processes are the same. Whereas the Dallas plant has a team of people working to maintain a functioning plant, I have a team of myself and my supervisor. I am not only an operator – I also do lab work, process control and system checks. I was able to see the role that I play in the larger system of water treatment. The Dallas plant also enabled me to see how, no matter the size of

your plant, environmental considerations are always top of mind and the future of the water sector is an ongoing discussion.

As the Summit moved on, I began to meet many more young professionals and industry leaders from all over North America; I worried that I might just be too small. What could I, a new operator from a small rural community in BC, bring to the table? It turns out to be a unique perspective of the water sector that many professionals from larger cities and companies haven't experienced. One of the major diﬀerences between these perspectives is simply access to resources and acquiring new parts, as these aren’t as readily available in my small community as they are in larger cities. This means that I have to be creative in the ways that I solve the problems I come up against.

Of all of the talks that I heard over the two days, there was one that really stood out to me. It was titled “After the tsunami, responding to workforce tidal” and was presented by Rhonda Harris. This talk resonated with me as I found many similarities between what Harris was sharing and my experience in the industry. Simply put, midand late-career water workers are leaving before they are able to hire and train replacements. Therefore, it is causing the knowledge gap to widen. I really appreciated how Harris highlighted what skills, knowledge and capabilities young professionals need to have in order to meet the rapidly changing needs of the sector and how she

shed light on what the organizations in the sector need to do to ensure jobs are appealing to a new generation of workers with her main focus on operating staﬀ.

I know that many people wonder what the water sector will look like in the future. We are seeing a large number of operators leaving the industry, along with rising operating costs and stricter regulation. But from what I saw at the Young Professionals Summit, there are so many passionate people who are fighting for the security and future of the water sector.

I was one of a handful of operators in a sea of engineers and consultants, and although it seemed at times that the Summit focused on anything but operations, it also enabled me to share my experiences with others in the water sector. The Summit provided common ground for all industry professionals to come together and collaborate on what the water sector will look like in the future. This sharing of ideas oﬀered me many great learning opportunities and I couldn’t help but wonder if the person across from me would be the one to make the next great strides in this industry. It is my hope that there will be a push for companies to send their operators to summits like this and give them the ability to find space and a louder voice in the future of the water sector.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity that would not have been possible without the BCWWA’s support.

From what I saw at the Young Professionals Summit, there are so many passionate people who are ghting for the security and future of the water sector.

The results of our 2025 Student Design Competition are in! Please join us in celebrating Team StormWise Innovations from the University of British Columbia (UBC) for their outstanding presentation at this year’s BCWWA Student Design Competition. Congratulations to Jaden Gauw, Jaden Mah, Kajal Mishra, Cindy Chow and Megan Slot from the University of British Columbia for their outstanding presentation and creative approach to stormwater management. The team accepted their BCWWA award at the 2025 annual conference and trade show and will soon compete in WEFTEC’s international student design competition in Chicago, Illinois, this September!

This year’s competition challenged teams to collaborate with the City of Coquitlam to assess

green and gray infrastructure and develop solutions to improve stormwater runoﬀ quality in the Nelson Creek Watershed. Team StormWise Innovations impressed the judges with their problem-solving and forward-thinking design, securing them the top spot.

Thank you to this year’s judging panel for providing students with feedback and industry insights regarding their presentations. The judging panel includes representatives from our sponsor organizations, Laurel Morgan (Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Ltd.), Shaun Swarbrick (Allnorth Consultants Limited), Paul Takayesu (Urban Systems Ltd.) and Trevor Cheung (City of Coquitlam). A special thank you to our municipal sponsor, the City of Coquitlam, and faculty advisor at Dr. Zeina Baalbaki (UBC) for their support of this year’s competition.

TEAM STORMWISE INNOVATIONS WINS 2025 STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITION

ABOUT THE SDC

Since 2013, the BCWWA has hosted an annual design competition for postsecondary students in British Columbia. The competition aims to help students apply their academic skills to solve the real-world water and wastewater problems we face every day, gain leadership and communication and help innovate the water sector.

Winning teams from BC have gone on to compete internationally at WEFTEC against teams from across Canada, the United States and the world. We’re proud to see BCWWA teams place consistently in the top three in the WEFTEC SDC competition!

To get involved in the 2026 Student Design Competition as a student team, volunteer or sponsor, contact Katie Patrao at kpatrao@bcwwa.org or (604) 433-7824.

THANK YOU TO OUR STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITION SPONSORS:

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Scan the QR Code to learn more:

CELEBRATING OUR ONE WATER SECTOR:

THE 53rd BCWWA ANNUAL CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW CONVENES IN VICTORIA

In April 2025, the 53rd BCWWA Annual Conference & Trade Show made a splash in BC’s capital city of Victoria. Over 1,200 water professionals gathered for three packed days of networking, learning and celebrating the incredible work happening across the water and wastewater sector in BC and the Yukon.

This year’s theme, ‘One Water, One Future,’ reminded us that water connects everything –our communities, our environment and our shared future. The conference brought this to life through over 90 education sessions focused on today’s most pressing water challenges, including climate change, conservation, aging infrastructure, workforce development and emerging contaminants, to name a few.

We were honoured to open the sessions with a welcome and land acknowledgment from a local First Nation's speaker Nuumtunat, whose English name is Florence Dick. Nuumtunat is a member of the Songhees Nation and was born and raised in the Lekwungen Territory. Nuumtunat offered powerful reflections during the speech on the deep cultural and spiritual relationship with water. This meaningful opening set the stage for a truly inspiring keynote from Geoff Green, polar adventurer, educator and founder of Students on Ice. Geoff shared captivating stories from his expeditions through the polar regions and around Canada’s expansive coastline (the longest in the world!), highlighting the invaluable lessons learned

from the local communities who depend on and protect these water sources. His journey underscored the importance of understanding and appreciating the water we use and the role we all play in safeguarding it.

Always a highlight of the conference, the trade show was abuzz with energy as over 170 exhibitors showcased the latest technologies, products and services shaping the future of water. The Industry Innovation Showcase returned in a new, engaging one-on-one interview format.

Host Zane Spencer from MPE a division of Englobe visited each presenter's trade show booth to get an inside scoop on their product oﬀerings, how they work and how the company is innovating in the industry. The recorded

April 27 - 29,

interviews were later packaged into videos shared with exhibitors and attendees following the conference.

We also welcomed back the Operator Challenge with full force as teams competed in the Pipe Repair Challenge and "Test the Waters" trivia showdown. This year, we were excited to have four teams from BC municipalities participate: Capital Regional District (CRD), City of Victoria, District of Lillooet team and a First Nations team made up of passionate operators from the Nanoose and Neskonlith First Nations (sponsored by the EOCP). Each team showcased their expertise, skill and enthusiasm for the challenge.

Congratulations to this year’s champions, Luke Chamberlin, Steve O'Keefe and Simon Chettleburgh from the Capital Regional District (CRD)! We look forward to future competitions as we celebrate the important but often unseen work of operators.

The BCWWA also hosted the 2025 BC & Yukon, ‘Best of the Best,’ Tap Water Taste Test, held to celebrate the operators who work to ensure the high-quality standards of our tap water and see

87% of exhibitors were also satis ed with the event.

98% of delegates were satis ed or very satis ed with the event, with 96% of attendees likely or very likely to recommend attending this event to others.

97% indicated that the conference was a valuable professional development experience for them.

Over 90% of delegates indicated they learned new information at the conference that will be helpful in the performance of their job. 99% of delegates found speakers to be knowledgeable and engaging.

WORDS FROM DELEGATES

“I enjoyed networking with other operators, seeing some of the innovative technology and also there were some valuable education sessions that were very informative.”

“It was my rst time attending, so I enjoyed the trade show, tours and education sessions.”

“I’ve enjoyed these conferences since 2000. Keep up the good work.”

This year's event was well-organized and provided something applicable for each session. I found it very inclusive and enjoyed being able to meet all levels of people working in the industry.”

WORDS FROM SPONSORS

“Thank you for the opportunity to support such an important event in the BC water and wastewater industry. We believe in fostering opportunities that align with our values, and your e orts have truly exempli ed that. We’re honoured to have played a role in your success and look forward to future opportunities to collaborate.”

who is crowned best-tasting tap water. New this year, samples were categorized into three divisions to recognize the full scope of treatment processes that exist for every size of community. Congratulations to three water providers out of 11 communities who won this year’s competition: Christoph Moch, Capital Regional District (Large Water System), Bob Clarke, District of Hope (Medium Water System) and Chris Stanger, Town of Qualicum Beach (Small Water System). Thank you to our esteemed panel of judges: Mayor Marianne Alto, City of Victoria; Christine Spitzley, Vice President at American Water Works Association (AWWA) & Principal at OHM Advisors; Paul Schuler, WEF Representative & Senior Strategic Advisor at Carollo Engineers and Robert Haller, Executive Director at Canadian Water & Wastewater Association (CWWA).

The conference wasn’t just about education and competition; it was also a time for networking and building stronger connections within the water community. Presidents and young professionals, students, exhibitors and volunteers came together to contribute to

the conversations and share their experiences working in the One Water sector. Our reception events provided a chance to reflect on the industry’s achievements and discuss the future of water in BC and the Yukon.

The conversation then shifted to recognizing excellence and distinguished leadership in our One Water sector. Tuesday's Awards Lunch, where BCWWA recognized professionals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to the water sector and to the BCWWA. The day ended with a magical reception, where live entertainment from a magician added a magical touch to the conference's wrap-up event.

We look forward to continuing the conversations, partnerships and innovations ignited at this year’s conference. Thank you to everyone who attended, participated and contributed to the success of our 2025 Annual Conference & Trade Show. We can't wait to see you again next year at the 2026 BCWWA Annual Conference & Trade Show in Penticton, BC, April 29 – May 1, 2026.

TPlease join us in congratulating this year’s recipients!

INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE

AWWA GEORGE WARREN FULLER AWARD

Recognizing sound engineering and leadership skills, and distinguished service to the water industry

Timothy W. Phelan

Associate Vice President, Water AECOM

Congratulations to Timothy W. Phelan for his career-defining engineering and leadership skills and distinguished service to the water industry. Timothy has been an active member of the water industry for over 30 years as a consulting engineer. He was chair of the BCWWA Lead in Drinking Water Task Force from 2019 to 2021 and a past director for the BC Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA). Timothy continues to contribute to the industry as current chair of the AWWA committee on carbon dioxide, member-at-large for the AWWA Standards Council and member of its new Standards Committee.

2025 BCWWA AWARDS

he Awards Lunch is a highlight of the BCWWA Annual Conference & Trade Show, where we recognize individuals and organizations that lead with excellence and make meaningful contributions to the to the work of the One Water sector. New this year, the BCWWA recognized a partner organization that has made significant corporate or collective contributions to the success of the BCWWA.

EXCELLENCE IN THE WATER AND WASTE INDUSTRY

VICTOR M. TERRY OPERATOR AWARD

Recognizing ingenuity and proficiency in facility operations and/or maintenance

Michael Murphy Manager, Public Works/ Utilities

Tsawwassen First Nation Congratulations to Michael Murphy for his ingenuity and proficiency in facility operations and maintenance. Michael Murphy is dedicated to enhancing infrastructure, improving efficiency and mentoring the next generation of industry professionals. As the manager of utilities and public works, he focuses on integrating teams, streamlining operations and strengthening internal capacity to meet increasing demands. He has also worked extensively with First Nations communities in BC, Alberta and Baffin Island, providing essential services, technical expertise and capacity-building support to strengthen their water and wastewater systems.

EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION IN THE WATER AND WASTE INDUSTRY AWARD

Recognizes innovation and excellence that advances the water and wastewater industry

Bob Shuck

Cross Connection Control Supervisor

Capital Regional District (CRD)

Congratulations to Bob Shuck for his excellence and innovation that advances the water and wastewater industry. For the past seven years, Bob and his team have hosted the Annual Regional Inspectors Roundtable, where building officials, health officials and special interest groups share knowledge on cross connection control, source control and water quality topics around southern Vancouver Island. Bob also currently sits on the BCWWA Cross Connection Control Technical Advisory Committee and the CSA B64 Technical Committee to be part of the work shaping the water industry.

SERVICE AWARDS

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE BCWWA: STANLEY S. COPP AWARD

Recognizes outstanding and continued service to the BCWWA

Stephen Horsman

Vice President

Carollo Engineers

We recognize Stephen Horsman for his outstanding and continued service to the BCWWA and congratulate him on his achievements. Stephen is a vice president at Carollo Engineers, responsible for leading Canadian market development and contributing to drinking water technical practice. Stephen has dedicated his career to making a diﬀerence in the water industry here in British Columbia. He is also an active member of the professional community, having served multiple terms on the BCWWA Board, including as president in 2019. He is currently a Chapter lead for the AWWA M65 Onsite Hypochlorite Generation 2nd Edition and actively participates in the BCWWA Drinking Water Community of Practice.

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO THE BCWWA: YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AWARD

Recognizing outstanding service to the BCWWA

Nick Mead-Fox

Senior Engineer, Green Infrastructure Implementation

City of Vancouver

We recognize Nick Mead-Fox for his outstanding service to the BCWWA. Nick Mead-Fox is a senior engineer with the Green Infrastructure (GI) Implementation Branch at the City of Vancouver, where he designs GI systems, oversees GI system construction and contributes to planning eﬀorts to expand and optimize GI implementation. Nick is the founder and co-chair of the BCWWA Green Infrastructure Community of Practice, which aims to share GI best practices with

TED MOLYNEUX CWWA Director

‘Laying the Foundation’ is this month’s theme and it ties in well with my column. Now is an important time for reflecting on the water sector’s place within the larger water framework and why partnership is so important.

The Liberals won a minority government in the April 28 election. Prime Minister Mark Carney has named his Cabinet with many new faces. We have new ministers in most of the portfolios we work with. Here is a list of the most relevant ministers:

• Minister of Health, the Honourable Marjorie Michel

• Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Julie Dabrusin

• Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, the Honourable Gregor Robertson

• Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree

• Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience, the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski

• Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Tim Hodgson

• Minister of Northern and Arctic Aﬀairs, the Honourable Rebecca Chartrand

• Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, the Honourable Evan Solomon From the throne speech delivered by King Charles and many other announcements, the focus of the Government has been, one, US trade and tariﬀs and two, housing.

I discussed potential tariff impacts in my last column and we are now seeing the effects of US and retaliatory tariffs. Utilities are seeing higher prices for US purchases and increasing infrastructure budgets. Many Canadian projects are being re-bid to find Canadian or non-US products and suppliers. Meanwhile, our Canadian private sector is dramatically impacted – being virtually blocked from the US market or even blocked here in Canada due to US integration of their products and/or ownership.

The CWWA, with the support of our regional partners, conducted a national survey of

BUILD, BUILD, BUILD

Canadian utilities to get a sense of what they buy from the US. Can they find Canadian (or non-US alternatives), and if not, what are the challenges? We also asked for examples of purchasing by-laws that speak to non-US selection and how to account for tariﬀs in large bidding proposals. We received just over 50 responses that touched on a wide variety of products. It was difficult to see any specific products or trends that could provide a clear direction on procurement options.

In discussions with the private sector members in Canada, it was determined that a directory of Canadian products and suppliers may be impossible and possibly cause more distress than assistance. Like automobiles, the water industry has been integrated between Canada and the US for decades. What does ‘Canadian’ mean? Made in Canada? Assembled in Canada? Canadian parts? Canadian ownership – in full or in part? Still, there is a demand from our utility sector for guidance on the procurement front. Together with our partners at the Canadian Water Network, we will go out to our members once more for examples of procurement contracts. We hope to publish a quick and simple booklet of example clauses by the end of June or July.

On the housing front, the slogan is ‘Build, Build, Build.’ While cuts to some spending and the civil service have commenced, there is a projected 8 percent increase in infrastructure spending. The CWWA plans

to advocate that those funds be directed to water infrastructure programs, given the relationship between housing growth and water and wastewater services.

I will look at committee work and partnerships more in the next column if tariﬀs allow. Finally, a reminder that CWWA’s National Water and Wastewater Conference will be held this November 2–5, 2025, in Victoria, BC.

MIKE GOSSELIN WEF Delegate

AMPLIFYING THE MESSAGE OF ONE WATER

The 2025 BCWWA Annual Conference & Trade Show held in Victoria, April 26–29, 2025, presented a valuable opportunity for industry professionals to enhance connections, expand their knowledge and explore the latest industry technologies.

This year’s conference theme, ‘One Water, One Future,’ was well represented. Educational opportunities and general discussions were centred on the challenges that all areas of the province are facing and allowed a space for everyone to take part in the conversations. It was amazing to see conference attendees sharing challenges and success experiences that they are faced with today and exploring what some future challenges may hold for us all. The conference also featured an impressive trade show, displaying cutting-edge technologies and services from vendors. Attendees had the opportunity to interact with experts and learn about innovations that could transform water management practices across the province. Education session discussions were particularly enlightening, addressing a wide range of water topics and strategies.

The conference theme was also recognized by government representatives, who were able to attend parts of the conference and speak directly with the BCWWA Board of Directors. This level of commitment shows true leadership and vision for our industry and highlights the need to continue and expand support for water.

BCWWA staﬀ once again presented an exceptionally well-run conference with events adhering to the schedule and exhibiting exemplary organization. We extend our gratitude for their eﬀorts and encourage a well-deserved break before planning the 2026 conference.

This year’s conference took place in the picturesque city of Victoria. The flowers were in full bloom; the weather was favourable, with minimal rain and abundant sunshine. Although accommodating over 1,200 individuals could pose some challenges for local businesses and residents, all interactions I experienced were extremely positive. Congratulations to everyone working in the downtown area.

Each year, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) sends a Board member to attend the

BCWWA conference. This year, Paul Schuler, WEF vice president, attended. Paul expressed his admiration for our conference, noting the diverse attendance and the engagement among operators, engineers and other industry professionals. He provided a WEF update to the BCWWA Board and Leadership Committee and enjoyed participating as one of the judges in the Tap Water Taste Test. Paul was enthusiastic about the return of the Operator Challenge event to the conference and facilitated direct connections between the BCWWA team and WEF staﬀ who manage the WEF Operator Challenge events, assisting us in revitalizing this competition.

As the conference came to a close, participants left with a renewed sense of purpose and a wealth of ideas to implement in their respective roles. The connections forged and knowledge shared during this event will undoubtedly strengthen the water industry in the years to come. We look forward to seeing how these discussions evolve and contribute to future advancements by the time the BCWWA 2026 Annual Conference unfolds.

DEIRDRE MORAN

AWWA Director

This year’s annual BCWWA conference theme of ‘One Water, One Future’ embodied the AWWA Water 2050 Vision and laid the foundation for future engagement. The Education Program reflected a broad cross-section of water topics, including risk management, utility and infrastructure resilience, asset management, stormwater, SCADA & OT and emergency response plans. Events like the operator challenge and the tap water taste test were once again in full swing and helped bring community awareness to water issues in a fun and engaging way.

Conferences are always an excellent forum to generate collaboration between entities and this year in Victoria was no exception.

This year’s AWWA visiting representative was Vice President Christine Spitzley; Christine is a principal at OHM Advisors and has a background in planning. As a planner, she has a unique understanding of water resources and her insight throughout the conference was valuable for our water community.

Christine and other affiliate representatives had opportunities throughout the conference to collaborate and share information with each other, as well as BCWWA leadership groups. Christine even put her refined water palate to the test as a judge for the BCWWA ‘Best of the Best’ tap water taste test, with the local Capital Regional District (CRD) water coming out on top in the large system category.

At the conference awards luncheon, Christine had the honour of presenting this year’s BC Section George Warren Fuller Award to Timothy Phelan, associate vice president, water, with AECOM. As an active volunteer for both the BCWWA and AWWA, Tim is a commendable recipient of this illustrious award. Tim will also be recognized as the BC Section Fuller Award recipient at this year’s ACE Conference in Denver, CO.

By the time this issue is published, ACE25 will have come and gone - this year’s event centers on the theme ‘Elevate’ and should motivate us

STRONGER THROUGH COLLABORATION

all to raise the bar in how we can contribute to the future of water. Other notable upcoming events coming up in 2025 include:

• Water Infrastructure Conference and Exposition (WIC), September 14–17 in Orlando, FL

• WaterSmart Innovations (WSI), October 7–9 in Reno, NV

• Water Quality Technology Conference (WQTC), November 9–12 in Tacoma, WA

For more information on these events and others please visit awwa.org.

Industry organizations and conference events are essential to lay the groundwork to advance industry knowledge, promote stakeholder collaboration and protect our water resources for future generations. AWWA’s recent advocacy work around PFAS is an example of such work that will have an impact long into the future; more info on this can be found at awwa.org/ resource/pfas. Additionally, in collaboration with the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, AWWA recently released

‘PFAS Treatment Evaluation Framework for Approaching Permit Plan Approval’ to facilitate water system planning and permitting of PFAS Treatment. Although our regulatory landscape diﬀers in Canada, this may still be a helpful resource for our water systems as they look forward to the future.

Where

Like water itself, innovation flows through every challenge and shapes new possibilities. For over 90 years, Carollo has pioneered breakthroughs in water technology – from resilient infrastructure protecting growing communities to groundbreaking solutions safeguarding public health and ecosystems. At Carollo, innovation isn’t just about what’s new – it’s about what’s necessary. Every advancement, every improvement, and every solution flows from a single purpose: shaping a future where water enriches every community it touches.

BCWWA EDUCATION COURSE CALENDAR

SELF-PACED INSTRUCTOR ASSISTED ONLINE COURSES

Are you looking for more flexibility and to enjoy learning at your own pace? If so, you may want to consider taking one of BCWWA’s online certification courses. There is a dedicated instructor available throughout the course to provide guidance and answer questions via email. Registration for the summer 2025 series will open on June 6. 2025. Courses begin on July 5, 2025.

July 4 – September 30,

July 4 – September 30, 2025

July 4 – September 30,

SELF-PACED CONTINUOUS ENROLLMENT COURSES

You can enroll at any time. Once enrolled you will have three months to finish the course.

INSTRUCTOR-LED VIRTUAL CLASSROOM COURSES

These courses will be delivered by an instructor and will run for the same lengths and times that the ‘regular’ in–class course would have.

To see our full course schedule for 2025, please visit bcwwa.org/site/education/calendar.

CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL EXAM SCHEDULE

Schedule subject to change. Please visit the BCWWA CCC Exam Calendar at www.bcwwa.org/site/ccc/certi cation/calendar for more information and updates

CERTIFICATION EXAM

Date Training

July 19, 2025

August 15, 2025

August 30, 2025

September 19, 2025

September 26, 2025

September 27, 2025

September 29, 2025

RECERTIFICATION EXAM

Date

July 22, 2025

August 23, 2025

September 27, 2025

September 29, 2025

Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU)

MTS – Maintenance Tracking Systems Inc

Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU)

Camosun College

Pacific Vocational College (PVC)

Camosun College

Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU)

Okanagan College

MTS – Maintenance Tracking Systems Inc

Camosun College

Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU)

Okanagan College

Location

Surrey

Vernon

Surrey

Victoria

Burnaby

Victoria

Surrey

Kelowna

Vernon

Victoria

Kelowna

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