August 18, 2010
Manitoba Eco-Network Water Bulletin
1) Comment on Canadian Biodiversity
The Canadian Environmental Network Biodiversity Caucus is looking for comments on its draft document: “Civil Society Dialogue and ENGO Recommendations on the new Strategic Plan of the CBD”. This document is the final in a series of papers undertaken, through support from Environment Canada, by the Canadian Environmental Network (RCEN) Biodiversity Caucus to gather the views of environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) on the main issues to be addressed at the 10th Conference of the Parties (COP10) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) taking place in Nagoya, Japan in October 2010. In addition to providing ENGO and civil society views on the new Strategic Plan of the CBD, this paper also includes recommendations on the elements and orientation of the new Strategic Plan from a Canadian ENGO perspective.
To receive a copy of the draft document please contact John Coombs, Nature Manitoba, MB coomjoh@gmail.com or Jessie Sadler, Canadian Environmental Network, Biodiversity Caucus Coordinator Jessie@cen-rce.org. They are accepting comments on the draft until August 24, 2010.
2) Keep HWY 17 North
Plans to expand the Trans-Canada Highway #17 from two lanes to four near Lake of the Woods in Northern Ontario could affect water quality and natural habitat according to a group of concerned residents and cottage owners. One of the proposed expansion routes would cut from the Manitoba border to Kenora, Ontario along the south lake front side of the existing highway.
A new group, Keep HWY 17 North has formed to oppose this proposed southern route. The goals of the organization include:
· Respect the intent of the Clearwater Bay Restricted Area Order (defined as lands south of Highway 17)
· Protect the natural habitat
· Protect water quality
· Protect the Lake Trout habitat
· Minimize noise pollution to landowners, cottagers and users of Clearwater Bay
· Minimize light pollution to landowners, cottagers and users of Clearwater Bay
· Minimize the negative environmental effects of the construction on all of the above
· Minimize the long term pollution effects of a roadway that could be hundreds of feet closer to Clearwater Bay
Get involved or to find out more info at: http://keephwy17north.org/index.html
3) Film: H2Oil
Dir. Shannon Walsh | Canada | 75 MIN
Fri Aug 20 to Sun Aug 22 – 7:30 PM
Wed Aug 25 – 7:30 PM
The CINEMATHEQUE,
100 ARTHUR ST.
Playing to packed houses from coast to coast, as well as in Norway and Italy, the beautifully photographed H2Oil reveals the alarming story of the Alberta Sands eco disaster where the water supply is feeding the oil industry. The film also reveals the shocking high cancer rates amongst the First Nations community downstream in the Fort Chipewyan community according to Chief Allan Adam.
A struggle is increasingly being fought between water and oil, not only over them. Located under Alberta’s pristine boreal forests, the process of oil sands extraction uses up to 4 barrels of fresh water to produce only one barrel of crude oil. At the same time, water - its depletion, exploitation, privatization and contamination - has become the most important issue to face humanity in this century.
H2Oil follows a voyage of discovery, heartbreak and politicization in the stories of those attempting to defend water in Alberta against tar sands expansion, and ultimately asks this question: what is more important, oil or water?
4) Mosquitoes, Pesticides and Beyond ToxiCity
Info at: http://mbeconetwork.org/action/citizen-action-on-mosquito-fogging/
Many people are asking what they can do in light of the City's proposals to change the way mosquito fogging is done. Here are some priority suggestions from Resource Conservation Manitoba and the Campaign for Pesticide Reduction, Winnipeg.
These are the Winnipeg Public Service Recommendations for the Mosquito Control Program.
Mosquito Wars: Politics, Economics or Science? This is a great article explaining the history of chemical insecticide programs and their questionable usefulness.
Write letters
To Hon. Bill Blaikie, Minister of Conservation mincon@leg.gov.mb.ca . See background info and a template letter at Resource Conservation Manitoba's website.
It's always good to add your own story, or your personal concerns.
Copy this letter, or write another one to Hon. Theresa Oswald, Minister of Health minhlt@leg.gov.mb.ca, and Hon. Greg Selinger, Premier.premier@leg.gov.mb.ca AND your MLA. (Find their email addresses here)
To the Winnipeg Free Press: It doesn't need to be long and complicated - just state your views.
2. Join a listserv on this issue:
email alonolamim@yahoo.ca and write "SIGN ME UP FOR BEYOND-TOXICITY" in the subject.
3. Attend a strategy meeting at the Millenium Library on Wednesday, August 19th, 7 pm. at the Manitoba Eco-Centre, 3rd floor, 303 Portage.
4. If the government approves the proposed changes and if you don't like them, send a letter of Appeal to Hon. Bill Blaikie, Minister of Conservation mincon@leg.gov.mb.ca within 15 days of the decision.
Resources
5) Lake Winnipeg call for action
Earlier this month, Canada’s premiers gathered in Winnipeg for the annual Conference of the Federation. The Manitoba Eco-Network issued a call for the premiers to take collective action to improve water quality in Lake Winnipeg. This summer has seen once again the emergence of toxic algae blooms on the lake. 16 organizations and several individuals from across Canada signed on to the call for action.
Read the statement below:
Environmentalists Call on Premiers to Address the Health of Lake Winnipeg
August 5, 2010
Toxic algae blooms have erupted once again this year on Lake Winnipeg. Horrifying pictures on several media websites have frightened away tourists, but for the area's year round residents as much as for the region's wildlife, there is nowhere to retreat. Premiers gathering in Winnipeg for the meeting of the Council of the Federation, August 5-6, 2010, should take the opportunity to implement solutions for this fragile but globally significant eco-system.
15 organizations and six individuals from across Canada and have joined the call for action to protect Lake Winnipeg.
"Lake Winnipeg is sick, but it's not just a Manitoba concern. The Lake Winnipeg watershed stretches one million square kilometres across four provinces. No one jurisdiction can tackle this problem alone. We need the Provinces to come together to save our lake," said Josh Brandon, water caucus coordinator with the Manitoba Eco-Network.
Scientists have found levels of algae have been increasing in both the North and South basins of Lake Winnipeg over the past ten years. Warm temperatures combined with high levels of nutrients in the water lead to rapid growth of algae choking off other life forms in Manitoba's lakes and rivers. Worse still, under some conditions, toxic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) can form, harming wildlife and endangering both humans and their pets. Scientists and environmental groups have been warning about the problem for years, but the lake's water quality continues to degenerate.
An action plan was created by the Lake Winnipeg Stewardship board in 2006. Since then, there have been improvements in some areas, but on several important items there has been little progress.
Priority action items that should top the premiers' agenda include:
· protection and restoration of wetlands;
· implementing strategies to reduce excess phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizer usage on cropland;
· addressing nutrient build-up in livestock facilities;
· better management of nutrients from municipal wastewater;
· securing funding from the federal government to see that all levels of government share these responsibilities.
·
Groups joining the call for premiers to address Lake Winnipeg include:
Vicki Burns, Community Foundations of Canada
Cathy Holtslander, Beyond Factory Farming
Cheryl Kennedy Courcelles, Spirit of the Red River
Lindy Clubb, Mixedwood Forest Society
Mo Tipples, Save Our Lake (Grindstone Owners Cottage Association)
Shiela Muxlow, Sierra Club, Prairie Chapter
Chanda Hunnie, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Manitoba Chapter
(Rev.) Ted Chell,co-Chair, Regional Cambrian Agassiz Kairos Committee
Dr. Mary LeMaître, Chair, Development & Peace, Archdiocese of Winnipeg, and Water Watch
Mike Bray, Regina-Qu'Appelle Federal Green Party Association
Bruce Smith, Lake Winnipeg Foundation Inc.
Dave Crabb President,Manitoba Association of Cottage Owners Inc.(MACO)
Jack Thornburgh, The Eco-Cell at St. John's, North Saanich, BC
Ian L. Robson, Coordinator, Region 5, National Farmers Union
Debby Coombs, Protecting Prairie Waters Committee, Brandon MB
Individuals signing on include:
Heather Souter, Commercial Fisher
Fiona Muldrew, Cottager
Donna & Don Winstone
Gil & Marcella Pedersen
6) Environment Canada's Latest Indicator: Water Levels
Canada is a water-rich country, with its rivers and lakes accounting for 7% of the world’s renewable freshwater. But even with all this water, shortages are a serious problem for regions of Canada where natural water supplies do not always meet human demand. Environment Canada's Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) are now measuring water levels. Read more about key findings at www.ec.gc.ca/indicateurs-indicators/
UN General Assembly passes historic Human Right to Water and Sanitation resolution
On July 28, 2010, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly agreed to a resolution declaring the human right to “safe and clean drinking water and sanitation.” The resolution, presented by the Bolivian government, had 124 countries vote in its favour while 42 countries – including Canada – abstained. For more information, including text of the resolution as well as a moving presentation by Bolivian Ambassador, Pablo Solon, see: http://mbeconetwork.org/international-issues/
News
Winnipeg Free Press, August 18, 2010
Soggy weather has led Winnipeggers to use significantly less water this summer, mainly because homeowners have no need to water their lawns.
The city used almost 12 per cent less water last month than it does in a normal July, water service manager Diane Sacher said. Only 6.9 billion litres of treated water flowed out of the new treatment plant in the Rural Municipality of Springfield last month, compared to 7.6 billion litres during an average July, based on the past five years of consumption.
So far this year, Winnipeggers have not used more than 247 million litres of water during a single day, down from the recent "peak day" average of 288 million litres, Sacher said. That amounts to a 14 per cent drop.
The most water used in a single hour this year - 15 million litres - is also down 14 per cent from the recent "peak hour" average of 17.5 million litres.
A steep decline in sprinkler use is the main reason for the drop, Sacher surmises.
The city will save money because the Winnipeg Water Treatment Plant has spent less on chemicals and energy than it expected this summer. However, the city will also spend a little extra money on wastewater treatment, as rainwater-diluted sewage from combined sewers has demanded more pumping and treatment.
It's too soon to say how much the net savings will be, since the $300-million water-treatment plant only went online late last year, Sacher noted.
It's easy to attribute the drop in water use to lawn care because other forms of household water consumption have become more efficient in recent years. Household water consumption in Winnipeg has been dropping since the early 1990s, thanks to more efficient toilets, faucets, shower heads and appliances such was washing machines.
"We saw a steady increase in per-capita consumption until the early '90s. Then it started to drop off," Sacher said.
Water consumption actually peaked in Winnipeg in 1988, which was plagued by an unusually hot and dry summer. That year, per capita consumption - which includes both household and industrial water use - was 500 litres per person per day.
In 2009, Winnipeg's per-capita water consumption was 314 litres per person per day -- the lowest since 1945, Sacher said.
The soggy summer means grass is growing in August at the same rate it normally does in the spring, meaning it must be cut more frequently.
Jay Baluk, who owns lawn-care company Lawn Monkeys, figures he has to cut his clients' lawns once a week instead of once every 10 days.
"At the end of the day, you're probably doing a little more work for the same money," he said.
Environment Canada is not predicting any more rain in Winnipeg until Monday.
How we're easing up:
Most water used during any given hour
2005-2009 average: 17.5 million litres
2010 to date: 15 million litres
Most water used on any given day
2005-2009 average: 288 million litres
2010 to date: 247 million litres
July consumption
2005-2009 average: 7.6 billion litres
July 2010: 6.9 billion litres
Source: City of Winnipeg
2007-2009
New data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) show that blood lead concentrations in the Canadian population have fallen dramatically since they were last measured 30 years ago. Furthermore, 91% of Canadians aged 6 to 79 had detectable concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA) in their urine and 88% had detectable concentrations of total mercury in their blood. The CHMS analyzed blood and urine samples for indicators of more than 80 environmental contaminants and chemical substances, most of which were measured for the first time in a representative sample of Canadians.
Lead
Blood lead concentrations were measured at the national level for the first time in 30 years by the CHMS from 2007 to 2009. Less than 1% of Canadians aged 6 to 79 had concentrations of lead at or above the intervention level of 10 micrograms per decilitre of blood.
The geometric mean concentration of blood lead for Canadians aged 6 to 79 was 1.34 micrograms per decilitre.
Blood lead concentrations were higher in adults than in children. Older adults (aged 60 to 79) had the highest concentrations. Children aged 6 to 11 and teens aged 12 to 19 had the lowest.
Controlling for age group and sex, higher concentrations of lead in the blood were associated with lower household income, being born outside Canada, living in a dwelling that was at least 50 years old, current or former smoking, and drinking alcohol at least once a week.
Although lead was detected in 100% of the population, concentrations have fallen dramatically over the past 30 years. The geometric mean lead concentration for people aged 6 to 79 measured by the CHMS between 2007 and 2009 was about one-third of the concentration measured in the 1978/1979 Canada Health Survey for the same age group.
In 1978/1979, about 27% of Canadians aged 6 to 79 had blood lead concentrations at or above the intervention level, compared with less than 1% from 2007 to 2009.
This decline reflects the removal of major sources of lead from the environment. Since the 1970s, lead has no longer been added to automotive gasoline or used as solder in food cans, and lead limits in paint have been reduced.
Bisphenol A (BPA)
Bisphenol A (BPA) concentrations were measured for the first time at a national level in Canada by the CHMS from 2007 to 2009.
Canadians aged 6 to 79 had a geometric mean concentration of urinary BPA of 1.16 micrograms per litre. This is consistent with results from international studies reporting mean or median concentrations of 1 to 3 micrograms per litre.
Concentrations of BPA in urine based on volume were higher for children aged 6 to 11 than they were for adults aged 40 to 79. Moreover, the highest concentrations were measured in teens aged 12 to 19.
Mercury
The CHMS measured total mercury in blood samples provided by participants aged 6 to 79. From 2007 to 2009, total blood mercury was detected in 88% of Canadians in this age group.
The geometric mean concentration across this population was 0.69 micrograms per litre. Mercury concentrations were lower for children and teens aged 6 to 19 than for adults aged 20 to 79.
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