The Ontario Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure (OCSI) released a new report on January 13 resulting from research and consultation on the Wastewater Infrastructure Needs Assessment (WINA) project, which was funded by the Province of Ontario to evaluate the need for a risk-based wastewater infrastructure prioritization framework for municipalities.
“Fighting climate change and working to keep our air, land, and water clean will ensure Ontario’s prosperity and quality of life for today and for future generations,” said Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Glen Murray. “We have already seen the impacts of climate change on our communities, from more severe storms to flooding and extreme temperatures. Forward-looking projects such as this demonstrate local and provincial leadership in adapting to the realities of climate change and in the years to come.”
The report, “Working when the Bough Breaks,” made 10 key recommendations that the OCSI plans to contribute to the ongoing conversation about the needs and priorities of Ontario’s municipalities in delivering effective wastewater and stormwater service.
“The WINA project enabled OCSI to fulfill one of its strategic objectives by researching and promoting the use of such risk-based tools to optimize infrastructure investments,” said OCSI chair Carl Bodimeade. “We are pleased with our outreach to more than 75 municipalities, and other stakeholder organizations, that participated in the project at area-based workshops, one-on-one interviews, through an on-line survey or at the Technology Transfer Workshop.”