Investing in the Future: Upgrading Canada’s Wastewater Infrastructure - WC135 MarApr 2024 - Magazine - Page 36
Investing in the Future: Upgrading Canada’s Wastewater Infrastructure
H2OPINION
Investing in the Future:
Upgrading Canada’s
Wastewater
Infrastructure
By exploring and adapting international
funding models, Canada can unlock the
potential for efficient, sustainable, and
resilient water management. BY JON GRANT
WON’T BE THE FIRST to advocate for this and hopefully I’ll be close to the last. When I started in the water
sector, I took two lessons to heart from a mentor and
later boss at a water technology company.
One, capital expenses to expand or upgrade is an easy
thing for governments to fund because you can see the new
plant. They don’t fund assessments or optimization through
opex well.
Two, if there was solid investment in inspecting a system
first, you could optimize capital dollars to stretch further.
The need for reliable wastewater management systems
can be seen not only in climate change and energy use, but
in society’s rapid industrialization to meet the needs of our
economy and population. There are examples of countries
who are getting infrastructure investment right and it all
depends on the issues facing that region. Spain invested
in its wastewater infrastructure, among other options like
desalination, amidst drought conditions to ensure that
they have reliable sources of water for the future. Canada
faces unique challenges in managing wastewater efficiently
and sustainably despite having a seemingly endless supply
of freshwater. If we act now, we can learn from others and
ensure that we have the right infrastructure to manage our
growing population, increasing variability from industrial dischargers, energy efficient treatment, and ensure an
increase in renewable energy.
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WATER C AN ADA • M ARCH/APRIL 2024
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Investing in the Future: Upgrading Canada’s Wastewater Infrastructure - WC135 MarApr 2024 - Magazine - Page 36
Investing in the Future: Upgrading Canada’s Wastewater Infrastructure - WC135 MarApr 2024 - Magazine - Page 37
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