watermatters

March 2016

• World Water Day – March 22, 2016

  Sunday, March 20th, 2016

  World Water Day happens annually on March 22. Attention to this event increases each year as the endangered state of water and waterways becomes increasingly apparent to the general public. The accelerating impact of climate change, population growth, urban sprawl, industrialization, pollution and over-extraction are apparent everywhere, including in Metro Vancouver.

  Mid-winter rains make it easy to forget the drought we experienced here in British Columbia in the summer of 2015. However the consequences of warmer temperatures and diminished snow pack are all around us. Water rationing, at least during summer months, is here to stay even in ‘water-rich’ coastal British Columbia.

  Theme for World Water Day 2016 – Better Water, Better Jobs

  Water is an essential factor in virtually every aspect of life. Each year the United Nations assigns a specific water related theme to be the focus of World Water Day. For 2016 the theme is ‘Water and Jobs’. Sufficient water, of good quality, is essential to life and livelihoods. Societies and economies are enabled or crushed by the availability and quality of local water.

  Some current water issues… in British Columbia

  Seven rivers in British Columbia have been identified in 2016 as endangered: the Seymour, Fraser, Cowichan, Thompson, Peace and Skeena Rivers and Shawnigan Creek.

  Residents of Shawnigan Lake on Vancouver Island are fighting to keep toxic waste out of their watershed.

  The Peace River Valley in northeastern BC is in danger of being submerged if the Site C dam project is allowed to reach completion.

  British Columbia has a new Water Sustainability Act. So far it lacks the teeth to ensure sustainability.

  In Canada
  Shockingly, more than 1,000 boil-water advisories are in place across Canada. Some of these water advisories have been in effect for decades resulting in third world living conditions for residents of these communities. Indigenous communities are those most commonly subjected to this appalling neglect.

  Globally
  February 2016 was the warmest ever on record.
  Arctic sea ice disappeared a record rates in January and February 2016 which will impact water temperatures and availability around the world.

  Posted in News & Initiatives, The Future of Water

• Clearbrook BC Wins Gold for World’s Best Tap Water

  Monday, March 7th, 2016

  Clearbrook (a neighbourhood of Abbotsford, BC) won the 2016 gold medal for best municipal water in the world on February 27, 2016. Municipalities from around the world compete annually for this award at the Berkeley Springs Water Tasting Competition which takes place in West Virginia. The event is also known as the Academy Awards of Water.

  Over the past decade Clearbrook’s water has repeatedly earned the gold medal for ‘best municipal water’ at Berkeley Springs, the largest annual water tasting competition in the world. Clearbrook won the gold medal in 2008, 2009, 2014 and 2016. It took home the bronze medal in 2015.

  Clearbrook gets its water from the Abbotsford-Sumas aquifer. No chlorine, no fluoride, no chemicals added!

  Although tap water in surrounding Abottsford is chemically treated and sourced mostly from Norrish Creek, the small neighbourhood of Clearbrook has proudly maintained control over its own water supply since 1953. The Clearbrook Waterworks District conducts frequent water quality tests and diligently maintains its water distribution system.

  2016 Berkeley Springs International Water Competition

  This was the 26th annual international water competition at Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. The water of Berkeley Springs has been known for hundreds of years for its healing properties.

  The competition consists of 5 different categories of waters.

  Winning waters are judged for being clear, odourless, ‘clean’ tasting, ‘light’ feeling, and with an aftertaste that ‘leaves you thirsting for more’.

  2016 Water Competition Winners

  Best Municipal Water 2016

  Best in world: Clearbrook, BC, Canada
  Best in US: Eldorado Springs, Colorado
  2nd Marysville, Victoria, Australia
  3rd Independence, Montana
  4th Santa Ana, California
  5th Mission Springs Water District, Desert Hot Springs, California

  Best Bottled Water 2016
  1^st Theoni Natural Mineral Water, Karditsa, Greece
  2^nd Prairie Crystal Pure Spring Water, Marchand, Manitoba
  3^rd Eau De Source 83 ppm, Village Blanchard, New Brunswick
  4^th Davia Organic Maple Sap Water, Saint-Quentin, New Brunswick
  5^th Antipodes, Whakatane, New Zealand

  Best Sparkling 2016
  1^st Tesanjski Kiseljak, Tesanj, Bosnia
  2^nd Touch Sparkling Mineral Water, Marchand, Manitoba
  3^rd Celvick Dobri Kiseljak, Tesanj, Bosnia
  3-way tie for 4^th
  Oro Luxury Water, Vizianius, Macedonia
  Nakd Luxury Sparkling Water, Putaruru, New Zealand
  Deluge Sparkling Natural Spring Water, Oro-Medonte, Ontario

  Best Purified Drinking Water 2016
  1^st Bar H2O, Richmond, Missouri
  2^nd Divinia, Idaho Falls, Idaho
  3^rd Hamilton, On Tap, Hamilton, Ohio
  4^th Mountain Drop, Linthicum, Maryland bottling Berkeley Springs water
  5^th Berkeley Springs Purified Water, Berkeley Springs, West Virginia

  Best Packaging 2016
  1^st Nakd Luxury Artesian Water, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
  2^nd Antipodes, Whakatane, New Zealand
  3^rd Jackson Springs Natural Premium Spring Water, Middlebro, Manitoba

  Posted in News & Initiatives, The Future of Water, Water Treatment Guide

• Austin Air Filters Save the Day

  Monday, March 7th, 2016

  An industrial gas leak has severely disrupted life in Porter Ranch, California. From October 2015 through February 2016, 1.2 million pounds of methane gushed out of a broken line, and a state of emergency was declared by the governor of California, before the leak was brought under control.

  Unfortunately the damage had been done as thousands of affected residents were forced to either move or endure exposure to terrible fumes.  Two schools had to be relocated, and numerous (although hopefully temporary) health conditions plagued children and residents who were unable to simply drop everything and leave. In addition, the crisis left a massive carbon footprint rivaling that of the Deepwater Horizon spill.
  To help those affected by this disaster, the Government of California and Southern California Gas Company (owner of the leaking gas well) vetted numerous indoor air filtration systems to find the most effective device to mitigate the gas contamination within residents’ homes. Austin Air was the sole company with units able to meet the requirements and provide clean air to impacted homes in the Porter Ranch area. Austin Air Healthmate Plus™ machines were provided for affected residents.

  A history of quality during crises

  For over two decades, Austin Air filters have been used to provide emergency filtration systems for crises in Kuwait, in the aftermath of 9/11 and during the chemical weapons incineration in Anniston, Alabama. The Homemate Plus™ systems were designed for situations combating chemical exposure or for individuals with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) who require well above-average home filtration.

  Posted in News & Initiatives

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