Thursday, January 8, 2026
The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) issued a position statement on Dec. 11 urging an engineering-led approach to improving Ontario water infrastructure.
“OSPE urges the adoption of engineering-led approaches to the provision of water services that prioritize public health, equity, resilience, and innovation. A coordinated provincial strategy, developed in collaboration with engineers, municipalities, Indigenous partners, and researchers, is necessary to deliver safe, sustainable, and climate-resilient water services for all Ontarians,” the statement said.
The position statement recommends development of a provincial water security strategy which aligns ministries and municipalities “around clear goals for public health, source protection, and resilience,” along with cooperation with the federal government to include meaningful Indigenous engagement in the process.
It also states drinking water treatment standards should be modernized to address current contaminants and climate impacts and should apply proven advanced treatment where appropriate. At the same time, the statement also recommends province-wide standards to “ensure drinking water infrastructure can withstand flooding, drought, and temperature extremes, recognizing the potential impacts of climate change.”
The statement recommends accelerated renewal of aging water and wastewater assets as well as promotion of real-time monitoring and early-warning systems to improve risk management and promotion of decentralized wastewater treatment (DWWT) as a scalable option for underserved and growing areas of the province.
Additional recommendations include investment in provincial data platforms, partnerships to advance smart water technologies, analytics and artificial intelligence and advancement of water equity and access.
Finally, the statement encourages further integration of water engineering into housing and urban planning, and to require flood resilience, stormwater reuse and low-impact development considerations in planning and approvals.
The OSPE position statement can be read in full here.
