AWWAO Congratulates Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation

January 2013
AWWAO Congratulates Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation
Inside this issue:
Wabigoon Lake
1
About Us
2
Premature Drinking 3-6
Water
Health Canada
Workshop 2012
6
Presentation of
AWWAO Operator of
the Year Award
7
Newsletter 1—Issue 1 8-9
Northern District
Health Canada
10
OWWCO Exam
Schedule
11
Introduction of new
12
AWWAO Coordinator
AWWAO Board of Directors would like to take this
opportunity to congratulate
Wabigoon Lake Ojibway
Nation in winning first place
in the 18th Annual Drinking
Water Taste Test! Senior
Operators from nine First
Nation member communities within the Bimose
Tribal Council attended the
Northwestern Ontario Water
and Wastewater Conference
(NWOWWC) held in Thunder Bay on October 24th
and 25th, 2012. Each year
operators are encouraged to
bring a water sample to the
conference to enter into the
taste test. Water is judged
based on taste, colour, odour
and chlorine residual.
Wabigoon Lake earned this
year’s first place title!
Marcel Shabaquay, Plant
Operator is seen in the picture to the right receiving
the award. Way to go
Wabigoon Lake!!
“These stories are the
tangible, measurable
results from our plans
and actions afforded by
Bimose Tribal Council’s
investment in the partnership agreement with
WCWC. I would like to
continue to expand on
what we are doing and
accomplishing. We’re
always very satisfied
Honorable mention also
goes out to second and third with the incredible potential!” - Paul Otis, Biplace winners, Red Lake
mose Technical Services
and Fort Frances! Thanks
to all those who participated Officer.
in this years challenge, as
always AWWAO encourages you to keep up the hard
work.
“Winning the NWOWWC
Drinking Water Taste Test
is an honor for Wabigoon
Lake Ojibway Nation. The
Walkerton Clean Water
Centre is pleased to provide
on-going support for the
training and development of
these water operators”
Larry Moore, CEO,
WCWC,
January 2013
The meaning of the AWWAO logo as described by the artist:
Tree—represents Mother Earth
Sun—brings Life to our Environment
Eagle—watches over the Environment
Page 2
VISION
Our Vision is to be the Association that best
understands and satisfies the training,
education, certification and licensing needs of
Operators of Ontario First Nations. Our
dedication to supporting Operators touches
not only health, but safety, spirit and
empowerment … most of all knowledge.
Sky—ensures the Cycle of Water
OBJECTIVES
 To act as a voice and forum for First Nation
ABOUT US
The Aboriginal Water & Wastewater Association of Ontario is an information source for water
environment and Operator training and certification issues and technology. AWWAO’s
members include professionals from Ontario First Nations, Environmental Health Officers,
Tribal Councils, Municipal Suppliers and some Government Agencies.
AWWAO is dedicated to the transfer of information and concepts regarding all areas of the
water environment. As members of the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the
Ontario Water Works Association (OWWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and
the Water Environment Association of Ontario (WEAO), we provide an invaluable network
for those involved in water and wastewater industry. AWWAO, through a partnering
agreement with The Ogemawahj Tribal Council and Health Canada co-operates and liaises
with the above noted associations, and all provincial and federal government agencies.
AWWAO has a volunteer seat on many of the various association’s committees.

Be updated and informed about issues that affect the water environment.

Interact with persons in various fields of water expertise.

Promote concerns of the membership through a collective voice.

Exchange information and ideas to other members, the public and Chiefs and Council.
To date, the AWWAO consistently rank the training and certification of Plant Operators as its
top priority. The attainment of Certification is widely recognized as essential to performing a
good job, at a high level, in the water and wastewater treatment plant operations, and an
indicator of a responsible and contributing community member.
MEMBERSHIP
$100.00 Membership Fee for First Nations Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators
per operator. This Membership entitles the Operator(s) to the AWWAO Newsletter, monthly
bulletin, Annual Report and the Annual General Assembly and Training Conference cost
reimbursement, if applicable.
$200.00 Membership Fee for Non-Operator, Public Works Management, Administration and
Management of a First Nation or Non-First Nation. This Membership entitles the Member to
the AWWAO Newsletter, monthly bulletins, Annual Report and invitation to the Annual
General Assembly and Training Conference.
Please Print
Name:
Name:
Name:
Name:
Name:
Name:
First Nation/Business:
Address:
E-mail:
 Promote the importance of a safe and
potable water supply and the highest
standard of wastewater operations;
 Promote the development and delivery of
continuing education and training programs
for Plant Operators and others involved in
water and wastewater treatment;
 Promote the importance of technical
AWWAO offers its members the opportunity to:
Phone:
Plant Operators in Ontario, publish a
newsletter, promote communications and
networking among Plant Operators and
other persons interested in AWWAO’s
objectives;
Fax:
training in maintaining and upgrading the
Operator’s knowledge of proper water and
wastewater operation and maintenance
requirements;
 Promote the importance of involving
qualified Operator’s in the design,
construction or upgrading of water and
wastewater treatment plants;
 Promote the importance of proper training,
certification and licensing of Operators;
 Promote the importance of enhanced lab
testing of potable water and monitoring of
wastewater effluents; and
 Promote the importance of establishing an
effective Operations & Maintenance
Management Plan to ensure proper care is
performed for the assets.
MISSION STATEMENT
We are a member oriented, non-profit
Association, providing province-wide and year
-round high-quality services and an annual
forum for the First Nations Water and
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators,
allowing for networking opportunities at the
same time. We are committed to providing
high quality information on the water and
wastewater industry through the quarterly
newsletter. We are dedicated to promoting,
preserving and protecting the water, natural
resources and environment through the
education, training and networking of the
Ontario First Nations Water and Wastewater
Treatment Plant Operators.
The Aboriginal Water and Wastewater Association of Ontario’s newsletter
is published quarterly by the AWWAO at the Ogemawahj Tribal Council,
5984 Rama Road, RAMA, ON L3V 6H6.
Tel: (705) 329-2511 ext.204 Fax: (705) 329-2509
E-mail: awwao@ogemawahj.on.ca
Advertising opportunities and/or submission or request of information,
please contact the Association Coordinator.
Page 3
The WATERDRUM
Premature Drinking Water Infrastructure Deterioration
Infrastructure provides
the physical elements
that enable a community
to better maintain its
own health.
We can
readily see this in terms
of electricity (e.g. food
refrigeration), natural
gas (e.g. home heating)
and pressured water
lines (e.g. fire-fighting).
Another example that is
often overlooked is that
of
dr ink ing
wat er
inf r ast r uct ur e
( e.g.
drinking, bathing/hand
washing,
home
cleaning).
If drinking
water
infrastructure
enables a community to
maintain its own health,
it follows that premature
deterioration of this
infrastructure—
specifically the water
treatment system and
distribution system—can
increase the health
burden on a community.
Unfortunately, this is a
challenge confronting a
number of First Nations
in Ontario (Indian and
Northern Affairs Canada,
2007). In this article we
try to better understand
this issue based on the
insight gained from
interviewing sixteen First
Nation
technical
practitioners from across
Ontario.
Interviewed
practitioners include:
operators,
trainers,
engineers, tribal council
technical staff and policy
analysts.
Why are water treatment
and distribution systems
not reaching the end of
their design-life?
P r a c t it i on er s ’
experiences and insights
indicate that premature
deterioration is caused
by a combination of
factors that continually
act to wear down
drinking
water
infrastructure. Figure 1
illustrates this cyclical
process with its five
main
factors,
or
branches.
In a nutshell, the cycle
works as follows:
a) Water treatment and
distribution systems
have
historically
been constructed to
a lower standard
than that of their
municipal neighbours.
From the on-set therefore
systems have had a lower
‘chance of survival’.
b) A tendency towar ds
breakdown maintenance
puts immediate pressure
on systems by addressing
failures after they happen,
rather than before.
c) Community infrastructure
gaps (e.g. absent back-up
power generator), resulting
from a piece-,meal
approach to community
development, trigger a
‘domino-effect’ wear-andtear process on water
systems.
d) Stopping the cycle of
deterioration is not
addressed head-on.
Rather, action is deflected
to report writing and
repairs are postponed. As
time goes on, small
problems become big
ones.
A.W.W.A.O.
www.awwao.org
Under Construction
Continued on pg. 4
January 2013
Page 4
Premature Drinking Water Infrastructure Deterioration (con’t)
Did You Know?
The original reason for
building community water
systems wasn’t to deliver
safe drinking water—it was
to fight fires!
e) When repairs and
upgrades do happen,
they are completed on a
risk-management basis.
This means specific high
-risk problems are
addressed
at
t he
expense of the system
as a whole. In other
words, ‘fighting-fires’
b e c o m e s
t h e
institutionalized
approach to water
system upkeep.
What causes this cycle?
Much to the frustration of
operators, many of the
root causes originate
outside the walls of the
water treatment plant.
Practitioners provided
the following insight.
Poor product from the on
-set. Up until 2005,
Aboriginal Affairs and
Northern Development
Canada (AANDC) had
its own set of design
standards for water
treatment
and
distribution systems for
Ontario that differed
from those of the
Province of Ontario. By
definition, a different
design standard yields a
different product (i.e.,
design-life;
demand
projections; per capita
demand). In this case,
the Province design
standards were more
advanced and updated
than AANDC’s. As a
result,
‘legacy’
infrastructure came to
be. Moving from design
standards to design and
construction work, we
find that both phases are
impacted by funding
pressure
and
construction pressure.
Funding
pressure
caused by a rigid
adherence
to
the
Preliminar y
Project
Approval (PPA) cost
estimate, results in the
trimming of design and
construction details (i.e.,
scope;
materials)
Though
the
water
system product may be
functional, its long-term
robustness may be
j e o p a r d i z e d .
Construction pressure is
caused by the mismatch
between the funding
calendar
and
t he
construction season.
This mismatch causes
scheduling challenges
that result in speedy
construction,
work
during winter, or the
erosion of construction
funds to pay for fasttrack
construction
premiums.
All said,
when construction is not
completed under ideal
conditions, it is unlikely
to produce the ideal
product.
Low level of operation
and maintenance (O&M)
To drive a car, you need
a driver, driving lessons
and money to pay for
gas.
Similarly, to
operate a water system,
you need an operator,
operations
and
maintenance training,
and funds to pay for
supplies and utilities.
Having these three
however is easier said
than done. Recruiting
and retaining operators
is a challenge.
New
talent is not attracted to
the low salaries, and
existing talent may leave
for a stronger pay-check
elsewhere.
The
resulting operator turnover rate creates gaps in
institutional memory that
typically require years to
build up.
Institutional
memory—the knowledge
of the quirks and glitches
of a water system—can
be
lost
from
a
community if operator
turn over is too high. In
terms of training, we find
that training is of high
quality; however, access
to training varies over
time and varies from
location to location—
sometimes it is available
and sometimes it is not.
Operator institutional
support faces similar
limitations as training. It
does exist; however, it is
not as heavily developed
as that of the Province.
As
with
design
standards, a different
amount of operator
institutional
support
yields a different result in
the field.
Page 5
The WATERDRUM
Premature Drinking Water Infrastructure Deterioration (con’t)
The last part of the O&M
puzzle relates to AANDC’s
policy for O&M funding.
AANDC uses a
mathematical formula to
predict water system O&M
costs. The formulas vary
in field-level accuracy and
rarely match the actual
O&M bills. Although this
has recently been
improved through the
Enhanced O&M Funding,
many water systems have
long been operated at a
financial deficit. Operating
under deficit conditions
can restrict pro-active work
and supply purchases, can
limit training initiatives, and
can create competition for
fund with other community
services. As the deficit
grows, so does the
operator’s O&M challenge
to keep up.
of all this is that
community development
has adapted to a onetime funding process,
instead of a step-by-step,
continuous building
process. At the extreme
end, new homes have
been built without water
or electricity connections.
At the mellower end,
small infrastructure gaps
have been left in the
community that over time
act to magnify the bigger
problems (e.g. no clear
well; no back-up power
generator; no back-up
treatment train). The
resulting domino-effect
means that public works
managers are left trying
to catch their tail in terms
of asset management.
By the time one piece of
the infrastructure puzzle
is built, another piece
has already deteriorated.
1990’s. Putting the two
together, it’s evident that
AANDC has been working
from a ‘rock and a hard
place’ position2. On the
one hand, it has not been
able to target an
appropriate infrastructure
budget. And on the other
hand, it’s ability to act has
been decreased by an
effectively reduced
purchasing power3. The
net result is fund
stretching, long delays and
a reduced ability for
AANDC to take action.
Band-aid repairs and
upgrades Unfortunately,
the same root causes
mentioned above (i.e.,
dollar-figure understanding
and over shadowed rate of
cost increase) result in an
AANDC operating deficit
relative to the actual
Domino-effect from other
community infrastructure
gaps Funding amounts
need. For AANDC, this
and funding formats are at No remedial action taken translates into stretching
The question of funding
the root of piece-meal
funds and managing risk.
deserves being looked
community development.
For operators, this
into
in
more
detail.
What
Right from the on-set,
translates into band-aid
insufficient funds have not we find out is that until
repairs and upgrades on
allowed communities to be recently (i.e., the 2011
an ‘as-needed’ basis. In
developed to a ‘big-picture’ National Assessment),
the end, ‘fighting fires’
AANDC did not have a
level. Rather,
becomes institutionalized
infrastructure ‘pieces’ have solid dollar-figure
and the approach to
understanding
of
the
been constructed
drinking water
water and wastewater
according to what funds
infrastructure upkeep.
are available. In addition, infrastructure needs of
infrastructure pieces have communities. At the
tended to reflect AANDC’s same time, Indian
Programming has been
priorities of the day, with
capped at a 2%1
non-essential design
elements cut. The impact increase since the mid1 As indicated by practitioners
2 Similar insight into the financial pressures on infrastructure fund is also noted by AANDC (Indian and Northern Affairs Canada 2009).
3 As effectively reduced purchasing power means that even though the dollar-figure has increased or stayed the same, the budget simply cannot ‘buy’ or ‘do’ as much as it used to. This is the result of when population
growth, asset increase, programming increase, construction cost increase and inflation combine to overshadow the fixed increase of 2%.
Continued on pg. 6
January 2013
18th Annual
Training
Conference
March 18th to
22nd
2013
Delta Sault
Ste. Marie
Waterfront
Hotel &
Conference
Centre
Page 6
Premature Drinking Water Infrastructure Deterioration (con’t)
What can operators and public works managers do about this? AANDC is a
large institution that does not have the ability to respond quickly. This gives the
space for operators and public works managers to take the opportunity to act.
A start to confronting premature drinking water infrastructure deterioration may
be found in the cycle shown in Figure 1, pg 3. By discussing each branch of
the cycle in detail, operators and public works managers, with support and
cooperation from Chief and Council, may find a root cause or branch that they
can work on, improve, and in the end, ‘break’ the cycle. While not a guarantee
for immediate change, the domino-effect of breaking the cycle may open doors
to new and unexpected possibilities.
Bibliography
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. (2009). Chronology—Water. Retrieved
January 2010: http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ai/mr/is/chrwtr-eng.asp
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. (2007). Summative evaluation of the First
Nations water management strategy. Ottawa, ON: Indian and Northern Affairs
Canada.
About the Authors
Jason McCullough and Khosrow Farahbakhsh are researchers within the
School of Engineering at the University of Guelph, Ontario. In addition to
research, both authors have worked in consulting with First Nations community
infrastructure. The detailed interview map that created this article is available
upon request.
Health Canada Water Workshop 2012
AWWAO assisted Health Canada in the coordination of this workshop for Community Health
Representatives and Water Operators. The two day conference started on November 7th, 2012
and was held at the Hilton Doubletree Hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
There were over ten presenters on
topics ranging from Aquatic Resources to Trucked Water Systems
Guidance Documents. Peter Ross of
Health Canada opened the workshop
with a presentation on Climate
Change and it’s possible impacts to
our way of life. The workshop was
very well attended and appreciated
by the audience.
Left-Vicki Thomas-Program Support Assistant, Sandra Green—EHO
and Peter Ross-EHO (Host and Moderator)
Page 7
The WATERDRUM
Presentation of AWWAO Operator of the Year Award
On May 25th, 2012, Mr. Steven Lickers of Six Nations of the Grand
River Territory was formally presented the PAUL STROHACK
MEMORIAL OPERATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD by the
Chair Kelvin Jamieson of AWWAO. The presentation occurred
during a Chief and Council meeting at which time Council also
presented a congratulatory plaque to Mr. Lickers. AWWAO wishes
to thank the entire Public Works staff of Six Nations for the
invitation to present the award in person to Mr. Lickers and the
amazing hospitality.
Pictured above:
Left—Director of Public Works, Mr. Mike Montour
Centre—Mr. Steven Lickers
Right–AWWAO Chair, Mr. Kelvin Jamieson
Photo courtesy of SFN communications.
18th Annual AWWAO General Assembly & Training Conference
KEEP THE DATE!!
The AWWAO Board of Directors has been very busy planning the upcoming 18th Annual AWWAO
General Assembly & Training Conference. This year the conference is being held at the Delta Sault
Ste. Marie Waterfront Hotel and Conference Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Registration will take place on Monday March 18, 2013 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Training will start
bright and early Tuesday March 19th and continue through to Thursday March 21, 2013.
The Annual General Meeting will be held Wednesday March 20, 2013 @ 4:30 p.m. with the banquet
dinner and evening entertainment to follow.
Continued... Pg. 8
January 2013
Page 8
Newsletter 1—Issue 1
An update from University of Guelph, Wilfred Laurier
University, Nippising University and AWWAO
Welcome! We are excited to release our first newsletter. We will take this
opportunity to introduce the project to newcomers, give and update for those
already on board, and share with you our next steps.
Our Project Water holds a sacred place in Indigenous
society. In past years, however, water has been boxed up
into policies, programs and processes that are developed
outside of the community. Our project looks at a new
approach to water—an approach developed by community
members and community leadership to reflect local
priorities, local processes and local knowledge. In specific,
we will look at community participation in the planning
and management of the physical infrastructure for water:
the infrastructure of water and wastewater systems.
Our Partners The universities of Guelph, Nippising and Wilfred Laurier have
partnered along with the Aboriginal Water and Wastewater Association of
Ontario to collaborate on this project. Project funding has been graciously
provided by the Canadian Water Network.
News In June 2012, a group of First Nation water experts met with the project
team to map out a project vision that would best fit First Nation community
needs. The water experts group continues to be closely involved with the
project as our Project Guidance Team. A short video of this workshop is shared
on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeUYThg4jBo
Since the workshop, we have made contact with four
Indigenous communities:
Dokis First Nation (ON), Rigolet-Nunatsiavut (NL), a
community in southern Ontario and a community in
northwestern Ontario. Dokis First Nation and RigoletNunatsiavut have already formalized partnerships.
Dokis
Dokis has expressed interest in water supply and
groundwater protection issues. The community hosted its
first public engagement session in late September to better
define the project vision and engage the community.
Page 9
The WATERDRUM
Newsletter 1—Issue 1 con’t...
Rigolet, meanwhile, has expressed interest in understanding technical reports,
and in defining a new approach to housing and infrastructure planning and
construction that incorporates local values.
We have also had a positive meeting with
representatives from a community in
southern Ontario. Conversation revolved
around the re-grounding of water programs
traditional knowledge, coupled with
technical support for an underperforming
wastewater treatment system. Project
consideration has now been forwarded to
Chief and Council.
in
Contact has also been made with a
community in northwestern Ontario; to date,
Rigolet
however, the community has not confirmed
participation. We are a bit hesitant to
pursue this opportunity further as we may find ourselves stretched thin.
Next Steps We will focus on collaborating with membership and leadership to
bring local knowledge to the surface and explore together the communities’
challenges and interests. We are also considering a Facebook page for
networking and chatting about the project.
If you have any other ideas, please send them our way!
Contact Us: mcculloj@uoguelph.ca
Don’t forget to
review your
conference
package and
register before
January 31, 2013
to save $ 100.00
per registration!
January 2013
Page 10
AWWAO is present for Health Canada Northern District
Conference, Thunder Bay November 20, 21 & 22, 2012
Pictured to the left is AWWAO Vice
Chair Wes Morriseau, attending to
the AWWAO Information booth set
up at this year’s conference.
Wes Morriseau, hard at work!
Peter Ross, EHO Health Canada
Conference Registration
Before January 31 $ 150
After January 31 $250
Membership Renewal
$ 100 per Operator
$ 200 per Associate
Conference participants
Page 11
The WATERDRUM
Ontario Water Wastewater Certification Office
Exam Schedule (Program Administrator Sites)
Important Notice: payments must be made by credit card (Visa/MasterCard) or cheque
made payable to the "Minister of Finance". Applications with cheques made payable to
"OWWCO" will be returned. Your application form, exam fee and proof of grade 12 (if
applicable) must be submitted to OWWCO by the deadline indicated on the schedule
below.
Application forms and additional information can be found at Drinking Water Ontario (a
Ministry of the Environment site) www.portal.gov.on.ca/ONT/portal61/drinkingwater
* Single exam session - only one exam per person may be written on this date.
CITY
TEST DATE
TEST SITE
DEADLINE FOR
APPLICATIONS
Keewaytinook Centre for Excellence
January 4, 2013
April 10, 2013
Victoria Road Community Centre
March 12, 2013
Hamilton
March 7, 2013
Mohawk College Residence & Conference Centre
Kenora
July 10, 2013
900 Golf Course Road
June 10, 2013
Dryden
January 25,
2013
Guelph
February 7, 2013
Kingston
January 16,
2013
INVISTA Centre
December 17,
2012
North Bay
January 15,
2013
60 Commerce Crescent
December 17,
2012
***Possible examination site
March 22, 2013 @ 9:00 am, Delta
Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront Hotel
and Conference Centre. Details
and confirmation to follow!***
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013!!
January 2013
Page 12
AWWAO Introduces New Coordinator
Ogemawahj Tribal Council welcomes Andrea
Edgar , AWWAO Coordinator to the team!
Office Address:
Ogemawahj Tribal Council
5984 Rama Road,
RAMA, ON
L3V 6H6
Phone: 705-329-2511 ext.204
Fax: 705-329-2509
E-mail: awwao@ogemawahj.on.ca
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kelvin Jamieson,
Chairperson
Wes Morriseau,
Vice-Chairperson
Phil Tangie,
Secretary
Lorri Bova
Treasurer
Ian Fortin,
Board Member
Gary Wheatley,
Board Member
Paul Otis (North),
Board Member
Andrea is a member of the Chippewas of
Rama First Nation and worked as the former
Housing Officer for the First Nation. We are
confident that Andrea possesses the
necessary computer skills, has the financial
background and public relations skills to
fulfill the duties assigned as the AWWAO
Coordinator.
Andrea will work coordinating meetings of
the Board of Directors as well as the
upcoming 18th Annual Training Conference.
Andrea will be in the office 3 days per week
commencing on November 6, 2012 and will
work every Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday for consistency with minor
alternating of work days to accommodate
AWWAO Board schedules.
You can contact Andrea
at: (705)-329-2511 Ext.
204
Fax: (705)-329-2509
Email:
awwao@ogemawahj.on.ca
Vacant (South),
Board Member
Feel free to drop by, give a call or send a
message, she’d be happy to hear from you!