WC145 NovDec 2025 - Magazine - Page 8
WATER STORY
Diving Into
Uncertainty
How Darlene Suddard turned uncertainty into
opportunity—and discovered an unexpected
passion for water
BY DARLENE SUDDARD
OW WHAT?
After 14 years working at my municipality, I was
shocked when my position as Water/Wastewater
Manager was eliminated due to reorganization. I
took the time to reflect and gain clarity on what I
truly wanted to pursue in my career—a luxury I couldn’t
afford when working 50–60 hours a week in a constant
state of “firefighting.”
N
I never planned to pursue a water sector career. Actually,
I hadn’t taken science past grade 10! I ended up at Sir Sandford Fleming College (now Fleming College) in Lindsay,
Ont., thinking I would become a cartographer, combining
my love of geography and art. But after being required to
take natural resources courses in my first semester, I realized
map-making wasn’t my thing. Instead, I was captivated by
courses on water sampling, fish and wildlife, forestry, and
geology—even though I didn’t consider myself a “science
person.” I was accepted into the Terrain and Water Resource
Technology program, graduating in 1992—just as the job
market was tightening due to provincial cutbacks. I later
Darlene Suddard is a Principal Consultant at Municipal Water Solutions Inc.
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WATER C AN ADA • NOV EMBER/ DECEMBER 2025
earned a BSc in Environmental Science at Trent University—
something my high school self would never have believed!
At Fleming, I genuinely enjoyed the water-focused part of
my program. A co-op with Ontario Power Generation analyzing zebra mussel larvae and a summer job evaluating wetlands
by canoe cemented my passion for a water-focused career.
After Trent, I spent 15 years at a consulting firm. I started
monitoring zebra mussel larvae in industrial cooling systems,
then became the Quality Management System (QMS) representative when the company achieved ISO 9001. Later, I
managed compliance for non-municipal water and wastewater
systems. By then, with two young kids at home, travelling
across the province began losing its appeal, so I leaned into the
compliance and QMS roles—which fit my love for rules.
When a nearby municipality posted for a Water/Wastewater
Compliance Coordinator, it felt like the right move. The role
involved regulatory compliance and building a QMS to meet
Ontario’s new Drinking Water Quality Management Standard
(DWQMS), developed in response to Justice O’Connor’s
Walkerton Inquiry recommendations. My background was a
perfect fit.
I joined the municipality in 2009 and by 2012 was Environmental Compliance Supervisor. Beyond water and
wastewater, I also managed environmental compliance, utility
locates, and the City’s water meters. I built an informal network with colleagues across the province, which evolved into
the Municipal Water and Wastewater Regulatory Committee.
Through those connections, I came to see the industry as one
big family and found my true passion: ensuring safe drinking
water and effective wastewater treatment.
What excited me the most was making a difference for
municipalities by guiding them through new regulations,
especially the introduction of Consolidated Linear Infrastructure Environmental Compliance Approvals (CLI-ECAs)
for wastewater and stormwater systems. Just as DWQMS once
reshaped operations, CLI-ECAs brought fresh challenges and
opportunities.
Since the official launch of Municipal Water Solutions on
September 20, 2023, I have deeply appreciated the strong
support from the water and wastewater community. This encouragement has allowed me to concentrate on helping former
colleagues and new municipal contacts meet their water and
wastewater compliance requirements. I have also taken on an
informal education and outreach role, serving as a liaison between the industry and my Provincial Ministry contacts, who
have been very supportive.
My most important lesson from that pivotal day? Your
water career can lead you anywhere, and regardless of the path
you take, you’ll find supporters and cheerleaders along the way.
Welcome change, accept the uncertainty, and dive in.
WAT E R C A N A D A . N E T
