Environment and Conservation
March 15, 2011
First Canada Water Week Celebrated March 14-22
March 14-22 marks the celebration of the first Canada Water Week, designated to raise the profile and understanding of water and its importance to Canada’s prosperity through the collaborative actions of individuals, governments and organizations across the country.
“Newfoundland and Labrador is blessed with an abundance of water, and our residents recognize its importance in our daily lives,” said the Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Environment and Conservation. “Water plays a vital role in bringing economic prosperity to communities, sustaining primary natural resources such as fisheries and forestry, providing energy, and offering recreational and tourism benefits. In addition to the economic benefits of our water resources, there is a fundamental consideration we must not overlook - water is essential for life.”
The importance of water to each of the provinces and territories was recognized by Canada’s premiers when the Council of the Federation approved its Water Charter during their summer meeting in Winnipeg, Manitoba in August 2010. The celebration of Canada Water Week is one of the commitments under the charter.
To view the Council of the Federation’s Water Charter or the news release issued in commemoration of the first Canada Water Week, visit: www.councilofthefederation.com
Under the legislative authority of the province’s Water Resources Act, 2002, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, through the Department of Environment and Conservation, has a mandate to ensure the province’s water resources are protected, conserved and enhanced to provide the greatest possible sustainable benefits to the people of this province. Through a multi-barrier approach to protecting drinking water, Newfoundland and Labrador has one of the most well established source protection programs in the country, and is the only province to undertake monitoring of public drinking water systems on behalf of all communities.
Newfoundland and Labrador has also led the country with its innovative Water System Operator Education, Training and Certification Program which has been adopted by other jurisdictions across Canada. This program offers hands-on training to operators in their own communities. The unique approach of this program provides operators with education and training opportunities that are focused on job competency, drinking water safety, environmental protection and infrastructure sustainability. As of 2011, there are 364 certified operators working in 126 communities throughout the province.
“Along with a drinking water focus, we have an important and celebrated connection to rivers, ponds and waterways of all types in Newfoundland and Labrador, whether it is playing pond hockey in the winter or going for a dip in the local swimming spot in the summer,” said Minister Wiseman. “Public awareness of the need to take care of, protect and restore freshwater ecosystems in and near our communities has never been higher. That is why, as the custodians of the water resources for the people of this province, we have increased our efforts to protect this resource.”
In 2010, the Provincial Government launched the Water Resources Web Portal, an Internet application that allows public access to a variety of water resources data including drinking water quality information, protected water supply areas, ambient water quality data, watersheds, real-time water quantity and quality data, location of sewage outfalls, and location of dams. Other jurisdictions across Canada are now reproducing the web portal concept in order to make information on water resources available to their citizens.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Water Resources Portal is available at maps.gov.nl.ca/water
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Media contact:
Melony O’Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca
2011 03 15 2:10 p.m.