Municipal wastewaters contain a diverse suite of contaminants (pharmaceuticals, personal care product additives, nutrients, organics, metals), some of which can affect the health of fish and other aquatic life living downstream of these discharges. Collectively these wastewaters also make up the largest total discharge by volume in Canada.  The Canadian Water Network has assembled a national panel of experts to review known and emerging contaminants in these wastewaters and opportunities to reduce their discharge to the environment.  I am looking forward to working with the team and to the meetings and discussions ahead.  It will be a challenging but critical task to ensure the most effective investments in wastewater treatment are made. For more on the objectives, panel members and timeline, click here.

Each year McMaster hosts a fantastic Water Week filled with speakers, tours, documentaries and panel discussions.  At the end of the week there are student posters and Kelli (middle left) won top prize. Congratulations Kelli! She was presented her award by the charismatic Water Brothers after they finished an engaging presentation on some global water issues and the award-winning documentaries they produce.  My favourite clip was from the Experimental Lakes Area (stay tuned) but a close second was the hilarious fishing scenes in Carpageddon.  It was a great way to end a fun-filled week.

Kelli Charbonneau was recently awarded the 2018 Hynes Scholarship from the Canadian Rivers Institute (CRI). Each year this award is given to one student that is doing research that both builds on Dr. Noel Hynes' legacy as the "father of running water ecology" and that supports CRI's vision "to make every river a healthy river".  Congratulations Kelli on receiving this award!