Heat from wastewater has been providing space heating and hot water to buildings in Vancouver's Southeast False Creek neighbourhood since 2010. Now, Toronto Western Hospital is set to harness the power of wastewater heat in a project being touted as "the world's largest raw wastewater energy project."
Spearheaded by Noventa Energy Partners and the Canadian Infrastructure Bank, this eco-friendly initiative aims to meet 90% of the hospital's thermal needs, significantly reducing its reliance on gas boilers.
Expected to launch in June, the project promises to cut greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of taking 1,811 cars off the road and conserve 250,000 cubic meters of water annually. By tapping into the abundant heat from a major sewer line, the hospital anticipates saving $685,000 on utility bills each year.
Mississippi Senate Approves Measure for Takeover of Jackson's Water System
The Mississippi Senate recently passed SB 2628, a measure aiming to transform the governance of Jackson's troubled water system. The bill proposes the establishment of the Mississippi Capitol Region Utility Authority, granting it the authority to potentially purchase the city's water and wastewater assets.
The system is currently managed by Ted Henifin, appointed by the U.S. Department of Justice in response to the 2022 Pearl River flooding, which caused significant disruptions to Jackson's water treatment plants. Despite opposition from the Jackson City Council and suggestions for amendments by Henifin, the Senate has moved forward with the measure.
EPA Announces Expansion of Rural Wastewater Funding Initiative
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the expansion of its successful Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap Community Initiative to 150 communities across Rural America. The program is already serving McDowell and Raleigh Counties in West Virginia and the agency is inviting rural communities across the region to apply.
Originally launched in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the initiative partners with underserved communities across the country to provide technical assistance on accessing federal wastewater funding.
Interested communities can request assistance by completing the WaterTA request form. Communities will be selected on a rolling basis and there is no deadline to apply. For questions, email septichelp@epa.gov.
