Canadian Water Quality Association

We’re happy to announce that Mark Harris from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business CFIB-FCEI will be the speaker for our 2nd webinar in the “Alternative Tools of the Trade” series: Discover the Savings Available to Your Business & Employees.

Mark is the National Account Executive for Group Relationships and Engagement at CFIB, and, as a former business owner, he brings firsthand insight into the challenges and rewards of running a small business. In this session, he’ll walk through the savings available to your business and your employees through CWQA’s partnership with CFIB.

📅 Thursday, July 9, 2026
💻 Online

Free for members: just be sure you’re logged in to your member account to have member pricing applied at registration.

CIPH - The Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating Annual Business Conference is underway right now in beautiful St. Andrews, NB and we just wrapped up a fireside chat featuring our Executive Director, Shelley Peters Peters. Shelley sat down with a group of fellow association leaders to talk through what it really takes to lead member-driven organizations right now. From shifting regulations, to new technology, to a lot of uncertainty.

Moderated by Eric Truskoski, the conversation brought together Sandy MacLeod, Tania Johnston, Kerry Stackpole, and Stephen Yurek for an honest look at how associations can keep delivering real value, stronger engagement, and effective advocacy for their members, no matter what’s thrown their way.

Thanks to CIPH - The Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating for bringing this group together, and to our fellow panellists for such a genuine, forward-looking conversation!

AI isn’t coming to the water treatment industry, it’s already here.

From customer service and marketing to sales and operations, water treatment companies are already using AI tools to work smarter and deliver better customer experiences.

Join us on June 25th for the first Webinar in our new series “Alternative Tools of the Trade”: “How AI Can Help Water Treatment Companies Improve Sales, Service, and Customer Experience”

Featuring Jay Patel, AI Solutions Specialist at Rossy.ai, who works with service-based businesses on AI-powered communication and workflow solutions built for companies just like yours.

You’ll learn:
✅ How AI can streamline your sales process and lead follow-up
✅ Ways to improve customer service and appointment booking without adding staff
✅ Practical tools for CRM workflows and emergency routing you can start using right away

Free for CWQA members | $50 for non-members

This Canadian Environment Week, we’re highlighting the connection between a healthy environment and safe, reliable drinking water.

For millions of Canadians, groundwater is a vital source of drinking water. Protecting our water resources from source to tap supports healthy communities, resilient ecosystems, and long-term environmental sustainability.

From water testing and treatment to ongoing system maintenance, water quality professionals play an important role in helping Canadians access clean, safe drinking water every day.

This month’s update on long-term boil water advisories in First Nations communities shows continued progress, but ongoing work remains.

As of May 6th, 2026:
-39 active long-term advisories remain
-153 long-term advisories have been lifted since 2015
-32 short-term advisories are currently in place south of 60

What changed since last month:
• Advisories lifted in parts of Ontario
• New advisories added in Manitoba and Ontario
• Atlantic Canada, BC, Alberta, and Quebec continue to report zero active long-term advisories

View the latest advisory map from Indigenous Services Canada: https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1614387410146/1614387435325

Every Friday, we’ll be featuring some of our most asked questions about water quality in Canada.

This week's FAQ: I get my water from the city— is it safe to drink?

The short answer: yes. Municipal water in Canada is regulated and treated to meet strict safety standards.

Did you know there’s an easy way to learn more about your local water?
Simply search: “[your city] annual water report”

Heading to the WQA Convention & Exposition 2026 next week?

Take a look at the schedule in advance to plan your time onsite:
https://convention.wqa.org/schedule/

If you’re attending, be sure to stop by and say hello at Booth #151.!

The latest update on boil water advisories shows progress, but ongoing gaps remain.

As of April 16, 2026:
• 40 active long-term advisories across 37 communities
• Impacting ~5,592 homes and 366 community buildings
• 50% of systems can produce clean water
• 53% require operational improvements before advisories can be lifted

This reflects a key reality:

In many cases, the infrastructure exists, but systems still need support, operations, and resources to consistently deliver safe water. Progress is happening. But there’s more work to do.

🔗 Full update: https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1614387410146/1614387435325