UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO – WATER INSTITUTE’S EXTERNAL PARTNERS PROGRAM

University of Waterloo - The Water Institute
Through collaboration among individuals engaged in water science, technology, management and governance, the Water Institute is an interdisciplinary hub that facilitates innovative research, education and training.  The Institute’s activities focus on the sustainable use and management of water resources to support healthy and prosperous communities and ecosystems at the national and international scale.  Throughout its history, the University of Waterloo has demonstrated a significant and consistent commitment to education and research on water-related topics and has garnered international acclaim for its innovative solutions to society’s water problems.

Launch of the The Water Institute’s External Partners Program

With over 125 faculty members and 400 graduate students, distributed over all six faculties, the University of Waterloo has one of the largest and most diverse water research programs in Canada.  Established in 2009 the Water Institute supports and encourages greater interdisciplinarity among our programs.  An important element in the strategy to achieve our goals is to encourage much closer association between the University and external organizations, including the private sector, government, civil society and other research facilities.

Please join us for this year’s Water Institute’s Research Symposium to be held May 2, 2013 at the University of Waterloo. The 2013 symposium will showcase the breadth of Waterloo’s water research and provide an opportunity for organizations to interact with researchers and students.

Website: water.uwaterloo.ca

GREAT LAKES ~ COOPERATION ACROSS BORDERS

Great Lakes United’s John Jackson on Ontario’s proposed Great Lakes Protection Act, by Meirav Even-Har of Water Canada November/December 2012 issue ~ excerpts ~

With the amended Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) recently signed between Canada and the United States …Ontario’s proposed Great Lakes Protection Act (Bill 100) comes at a crucial time… The ambitious goal to restore and protect the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin is no easy task. This proposed legislation is meant to enable the revision and implementation of the now expired Canada-Ontario Agreement Respecting the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem to execute the Province’s obligations under the GLWQA. It’s also meant to build on current work and existing laws and regulations to create a new set of tools that will be driven, to some extent, by a local, community based approach to protection.
As an enabling act, the GLPA will allow for the creation of regulations and specific actions based on consultation with stakeholders, government bodies, First Nations and Métis, as well as the public. According to the draft Great Lakes Strategy—a guiding document to accompany the Act—the key elements
to the proposed legislation include setting a direction on Great Lakes, establishing a Great Lakes Guardians’ Council, identifying priorities for action in a strategy, building on existing tools by establishing clear targets, and taking phased, targeted action with geographically focused initiatives… Water Canada: Is this the right time for a Great Lakes Protection Act? John Jackson: The value of a piece of legislation is to draw attention to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River as needing broad serious attention,  not just as part of the overall environmental programs. It recognizes the special importance of the Great Lakes and helps draw attention to them. This legislation should not, however, be seen as the answer to all of the problems in the Great Lakes. The government must still focus on making sure it  implements the already existing legislation and Agreements such as the Water Conservation Act and the Great Lakes-St Lawrence River Water Sustainability Agreement with the U.S. Great Lakes states. How will the proposed Act work with current binational management of the Lakes? The Bill commits Ontario to participate in the binational activities and to play a leadership role. This is a very important step forward, since, with the  exception of the Water Sustainability Agreement, the provincial attendees at binational meetings tend to take more of an observer role rather than being active participants. This is a problem that I hope this will help us overcome. What lessons, if any, have we learned? What needs to happen to protect and restore the Great Lakes? We need new long-term  financial commitments by the federal and provincial and state governments to implementing Great Lakes programs and to monitoring and assessing progress. Instead we are confronted by all governments making promises while reducing the amount of staff and scientists working on the issue, et cetera. The new Ontario bill makes no financial commitments. This is a  serious problem. We need commitments by all governments to strengthen legislation and regulations if needed. Unfortunately, all levels of government are now stepping back from strengthening anything that is a non-voluntary program. We need more serious engagement by the government of stakeholders and the public in decision-making on Great Lakes matters. This bill includes components that, if properly implemented, could be important steps forward on this matter.

Meirav Even-Har is a sustainability consultant and writer. She is also 3RCertified program manager at the recycling Council of Ontario.

Link ~ http://watercanada.net/

http://www.ec.gc.ca/stl/default.asp?lang=En&n=F46CF5F8-1

WATER POLLUTION THREAT TO CHINA’S POPULATION

Metro Basin Blues

Water pollution poses a real threat to china’s northern, urban population. Could constructed wetlands help? 

The following excerpts are taken from Water Canada Magazine, September/October publication.

Around the globe, there is concern about the effects of china’s rapid economic development on the air, land, water, and energy resources, as well as the ways that the country’s complex and sometimes less-than-efficient bureaucratic system may impact environmental policy implementation. the most serious of these challenges have been linked to the country’s declining water supply, which not only suffers from considerable pollutants, but also is insufficient for the country’s massive population and rapidly growing economy.  Water pollution is rampant nationwide, while water scarcity has worsened severely in north china. the problem is not only environmental— insufficient water is already limiting industrial and agricultural output in some areas. If solutions are not found and implemented, scarcity threatens to negatively impact china’s high economic growth rate and food production.

Treating China’s wastewater: Centralized wastewater treatment systems are the prevailing solution for water pollution control in many industrialized countries. to a large degree, this approach solves the problems of sanitation very efficiently. However, at the end of 2002, the official rate of municipal wastewater treatment in china was approximately 36.5 per cent, which is far from adequate given China’s serious water pollution.  Constructed wetlands (CWs) for wastewater treatment have great potential for application in china. the biogeochemical cycles of wetland plants can help transform and mineralized organic matter found in wastewater.  over the last 100 years, we’ve learned how these processes work, and recognized that many could be replicated with CWs. they’re now viewed as a viable treatment option for many different waste streams, including municipal, mining, dairy and wine-making. they’re also an attractive and stable alternative due to cost and energy savings. additionally, there are the advantages of multi-purpose reuse of the resulting high quality effluent, as well as self-remediation and self-adaptation to the surrounding conditions and environment.

Case study: Tianjin Airport Economic development Zone:  Two mega cities of china, Beijing and Tianjin, as well as the Hubei Provinces are within the region of the HaiHe river basin. the HaiHe river basin contains 10 per cent of the entire population of china, which is about 118 million people, as well as being the main source for providing fresh water to Beijing and Tianjin (Domagalski et al., 2001). this basin is facing a decrease in water levels during low precipitation leading to drought and water shortage during the dry season. It also faces serious contamination problem—the annual amount of wastewater discharged into the rivers is about four billion megagrams, and is also a major contributor to pollutant loadings in the nearby Bohai sea (Domagalski et al., 2001).

Located southeast of Beijing, Tianjin is the sixth-largest city in China (greater metropolitan population of 13,000,000). considered the economic hub of Tianjin, the Binhai new area is a new zone designated to host a number of key industrial zones, waterfront development areas, and commercial and residential properties, for nearly two million people. the region is a representation of china’s objective to modernize its coastal cities while promoting economic development.

Due to the severe impacts of urban development on water quality in Binhai new area, Tianjin, and the HaiHe river basin, the proposed solution is the implementation of two CWs at TaedZ. In collaboration with Tianjin University (TJU), Lindsay, Ontario’s Centre For Alternative Wastewater treatment at Fleming college (CAWT), Queen’s University in Kingston, and aqua treatment technologies, this location has been selected as a demonstration site for wetlands technology in a rapidly developing urban area, to address the issues of surface water degradation… China’s diverse climate and sources of wastewater allow for unique research conditions and a variety of parameters to be addressed simultaneously that would not be possible in another location.  In addition, China’s economic growth conditions add to the innovative nature of the project, and allow for new developments while taking into consideration social issues. after extensive applications in similar geographic and climatic regions in Canada such as the prairie region and southwestern Ontario, the technology may eventually benefit Canadian communities as well. 

Annie Chouinard is a graduate student in the department of civil engineering at Queen’s University.  She is conducting research in China at TJU.

CANADA’S LARGEST WATER THEME PARK ~ CALYPSO

Continuing on with our “Cool Down” series, our next visit is to the Calypso Water Park near Ottawa, in Limoges, Ontario ~ practically in our own back yard!

There’s still lots of time left for you to plan a summer outing of fabulous fun-filled water recreation.

Interesting facts about the park ~ excerpt from Calypso’s web site ~

• More than 35 water slides and 100 water games
• Canada’s largest wave pool
• The highest free-standing water slide tower in North America
• Jungle Run, a 750 m wild and twisted river adventure
• All pools are heated

~ Calypso is Canada’s biggest theme water park, now encompassing 100 acres of water fun for all ages - toddlers to grandparents. 
~ Calypso Park has 100 different water adventures. humongous state-of-the-art slides, a river run, Canada’s largest wave pool, thrilling rides – even a whitewater experience! You won’t have time to be bored.
~ You wanted a wave pool that eclipses all others - we’ve got it. We’ve captured over an acre of ocean and set it free in our park. The enormous wave pool has 10 different types of waves. Calypso Palace wave pool is where people gather to ride the good times.

Calypso Theme Water Park is the summertime place to be, just east of Ottawa off Highway 417 and 75 minutes from Montreal. So pack your swimwear and come on over. Some amenities include restaurants, dairy bar, cafeteria, landscaped picnic areas, souvenir shop, Vip Zone,  Hawaiian Beach Bar, and lounge chairs - plenty of room to enjoy a good laugh and of course, excitement galore. Every inch of this place is injected with fun. No, we haven’t forgotten our smallest friends, toddlers; we have a safe heaven for you, too. Share the best summer moments ever; bring a friend and soak up the fun.

It looks as if the rafts are going to capsize ~ but, amazingly enough they never do!

Martin, the owner of Eternally Pure Water Systems, Inc., had a great time at the park with his young family this past weekend and gives a ‘thumbs up’ for Calypso Park.  Here are a few photos he took at the park ~

This looks like the ideal water park for all you water sport ‘thrill seekers’!   I’m sure that you will have a fabulous time.

~ For water park recreation next year you might consider buying a season ticket - great to have if you live within a short travelling distance.

WIN 5 FABULOUS ‘DREAM GETAWAY’ PRIZES!!!

Ontario’s Highlands boast some of the most scenic rivers, lakes and forests in the province of Ontario. It’s all so close, and yet so far away from it all. Ontario’s Highlands is nestled in an area 30 minutes west of Ottawa and just 2.5 hours traveling from town to town along our scenic roadways from Toronto. Many people visit us to relax and enjoy our down to earth hospitality, while others seek the outdoor adventure of their choosing.

“FAB 5 OF SUMMER SWEEPSTAKES”

1 OF 5 DREAM GETAWAYS THIS SUMMER.

SWEEPSTAKES CLOSING DATE  ~ deadline for entering the Sweepstakes is Saturday, June 30th, 2012 at 11:59 pm EST.

GETAWAY ONE ~ THE ADRENALINE SEEKER

 

Quick Breakdown ~ 2 night stay at RiverRun Rafting and Wilderness Resort; full day of High Adventure Rafting; passes for the Mustang Experience at Calabogie Motorsports Park; 2 breakfasts, 1 dinner and 1 lunch at the resort; dinner for two at Calabogie Peaks Resort AND MORE!

GETAWAY TWO ~ SCENES OF ART & NATURE

Quick Breakdown ~ 2 night stay at Heather Lodge; full day “A Natural Work of Art” guided tour presented by Yours Outdoors, including a hands-on pottery work shop; day passes to Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve, including passes to the Wolf Centre and a Walk in the Clouds Canopy Tour; 2 breakfasts and 1 dinner at the lodge; lunch provided by Gravity Coffee House during the art tour; dinner for two at Sir Sam’s Inn AND MORE!

GETAWAY THREE ~ CULTURALLY CONNECTED

Quick Breakdown ~ 2 night stay at Code’s Mill Inn and Spa in Perth; tickets to a show at Classic Theatre Festival; tickets for a Rideau Canal Boat Tour; “Fun in the Falls” museum passport; breakfasts at the Inn; dinner for at The Stone Cellar; dinner at Fiddleheads Bar and Grill AND MORE!

GETAWAY FOUR ~ WELLNESS & WILDERNESS

Quick Breakdown ~ 2 night stay at Marmora Inn, including access to their heated pool and sauna; full day wellness retreat at Grail Springs Wellness Retreat and Health Spa, including yoga, spa treatment, guided hike and access to meditation gardens; treatments for two at the Evergreen Acres Holistic Wellness Centre; 2 breakfasts and 1 dinner at the Inn.

GETAWAY FIVE ~ LEISURE ON THE LAKE

Quick Breakdown ~ 3 night stay including meals at Land O’ Lake Lodge; Friends of Bon Echo Park interpretive boat tour of Mazinaw Lake; Full day 21’ Vectra Pontoon Boat rental from Smart’s Marina.

CLICK LINK BELOW TO ENTER CONTEST ~

http://www.ontarioshighlands.ca/win/

We wish all entrants the  best of luck and

“HAPPY DREAM GETAWAY”

to the winner!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA! BONNE FETE CANADA! ~ SPECTACULAR VIDEOS!!!

HAPPY  BIRTHDAY  CANADA!!!
BONNE  FETE  CANADA!!!
145 YEARS OLD!!!

“… with glowing hearts we see thee rise, the True North strong and free…”

  On July 1, 1867, Canada became a self-governing dominion of Great Britain and a federation of four provinces: Nova Scotia; New Brunswick; Ontario; and Quebec. The anniversary of this date was called Dominion Day until 1982. Since 1983, July 1 has been officially known as Canada Day.
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world’s second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories:  Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. The three territories are Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon.

   FIRST:

Let’s celebrate our country’s birthday by watching three superb, entertaining and educational videos. Canada is an incredibly diverse land: geographically and culturally
from “sea to shining sea”.

The following is a spectacular example of how music enhances photography.  This video is accompanied by Il Divo and Celine Dion’s , “I Believe”.  To fully appreciate Canada’s incredible beauty, watch the three videos in ‘FULL SCREEN’ MODE.

For all of our friends around the world the following YouTube video, “Tom Brokow Explains Canada to Americans”, is a great introduction to Canada ~ and I must admit that, although I have lived in Canada all my life, I LEARNED A GREAT DEAL BY WATCHING THIS VIDEO AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO EVERYONE!

~ Uploaded by j940651 on 27 Feb 2010 ~ Tom Brokaw explains the relationship between Canada and The United States, in a pre-recorded short film that aired on NBC, prior to the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

AND LAST, BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST ~ this special video, “CANADA REGIONS – CANADIAN PERSPECTIVES CLASS”, has slides, videos and TEXT DESCRIPTIONS of the photographs ~ Beautiful video expressing Canada values and attitudes. What a majestic landscape and incredible people ~  the second largest country on earth.

       SECOND: 

Now that you’re incredibly ‘PUMPED’ about this GREAT COUNTRY of ours ~ get out with family, friends and neighbours to participate in all the ‘Canada Day’ activities that are offered in your communities – fellow Ottawans see the link at end of blog for what our city has to offer. 

Your friends at Rainsoft Ottawa are very proud, thankful and blessed to be living in this spectacular country of ours ~ CANADA!

Link to Canada Day 2012 Events ~

http://www.ottawakiosk.com/canada_day.html

Link to history of Canada’s Provinces and Territories ~

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_and_territories_of_Canada

I hope you enjoyed my tribute to Canada and that you will store this blog in you ‘Favorites’ folder for encore viewing.

           HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!

PADDLES UP! EVERYONE – OTTAWA, CANADA DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

PADDLES UP FOR THE 2012 TIM HORTONS’

OTTAWA DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

The Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival is the largest festival of its kind in North America. It is a three day event held at Mooney’s Bay Park.

Admission is FREE and features non-stop racing, concerts, children’s area, cultural performances, local delicacies, artisans and fun shopping! It is a great destination in the heart of the Nations Capital and is an easy getaway for visitors from Ontario, Quebec and the United States.

THE 19TH ANNUAL OTTAWA DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL WILL TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 22-24, 2012

In partnership with the Ottawa Dragon Boat Foundation, paddlers raise funds through the Pledge Challenge for local charities. To join the Pledge Challenge, visit http://www.dragonboatfoundation.net.

The following is a YouTube video of the 2011 Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival -

I just had to include the following inspirational video I found on YouTube, “Must Watch Dragon Boat Clip!!!”, taken from various dragon boat events in Singapore.

This video was created to show that the sport, dragon boating, is not just about training hard to win, but to enjoy and embrace all the elements that it encompasses.

Three fun filled days for everyone – Have a great time - Best of luck to all participants – “WINNING PADDLE TAKES ALL!!!”

Rainsoft – Eternally Pure Water Systems, Inc.

SALES & SERVICE for all your water treatment needs in Ottawa and surrounding areas in Ontario and Quebec.

CANADA’S GREAT LAKES ARE IN TROUBLE

CANADA’S GREAT LAKES ARE IN TROUBLE

The following excerpts are taken from “Our Great Lakes Commons: A Peoples Plan to Protect the Great Lakes Forever”, by Maude Barlow, National Chairperson, Council of Canadians.  I’ve also included some information from Environment Canada.

I encourage you to watch the video, “Incredible by Any Measure…the Great Lakes”, created by The Nature Conservancy, that I’ve placed at the end of this blog – a wealth of information and incredible cinematography.

The Great Lakes of North America form the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world, holding more than 20 per cent of the world’s surface freshwater and 95 per cent of North America’s. Add to this the groundwater underlying and feeding the Great Lakes or its tribu­tary streams and lakes, and the percentage is closer to 25 and 97 per cent respectively. The Lakes and the St. Lawrence River, which is their primary flow outlet to the Atlantic Ocean, are bordered by two Canadian provinces: Ontario and Quebec, and eight U.S. states…

The Great Lakes have a unique biodiversity and are home to more than 3,500 species of plants and animals. They were formed over 20,000 years ago when the last glacier continental ice sheet retreated. The Great Lakes provide life and livelihood to more than 40 million people and are the economic centre at the heart of the continent. They are, however, under serious threat from a wide variety of demands and sources… There is a misconception that the Great Lakes replenish themselves each year with rainwater. This is not true.

. . . we have built our economic and development policies based on a human-centric model and assumed that nature would never fail to provide, or that, where it does fail, technology will save the day. We have polluted, diverted and mismanaged the planet’s finite supplies of water to the point that they are now dangerously close to collapse in many parts of the world . . . The waters of the Great Lakes are no exception to this rule.

 The Great Lakes – some vital statistics

The five Great Lakes  hold one-fifth of the fresh water on the earth’s surface and 80 percent of the lake and river water in North America. The Great Lakes basin, including the water and land area that drains into the lakes, covers 766,000 square kilometres (295,700 square miles). The shoreline of the five Great Lakes and the connecting rivers stretches for 17,000 kilometres (10,200 miles), long enough to reach nearly halfway around the world. The water of the Great Lakes flows from the middle of the continent to the Atlantic Ocean.  The lakes contain the world’s largest system of freshwater islands, some of which are refuges for rare and endangered species. About five million people fish in the Great Lakes. Close to one million boats, mainly pleasure craft operate on the Great Lakes.

A few ways we can help keep the environment and wildlife species of our Great Lakes safe.

Keep hazardous materials out of the water. Purchase products that are produced in ways that have a low impact on the environment. Use safe disposal methods for insect and weed killers, paints, solvents, used motor oil, and other auto fluids. Take them to hazardous waste centres for disposal. Take used motor oil to a service station for recycling. Take medicines to a pharmacy for safe disposal. Keep litter, pet waste, leaves, and debris out of street gutters and storm drains. Avoid hosing dirt into storm sewers because it can reduce flow in them and be carried into lakes and rivers. Use low-phosphate or phosphate-free detergents. Use natural pest-control methods. Disconnect downspouts and direct rainwater into a barrel or onto your lawn or garden. Use separate stones and porous materials instead of concrete for walkways, driveways, and patios so that water will seep into the ground rather than draining into the sewer systems. Support car washes that treat or recycle their wastewater and dry cleaners that are using new “green” processes.

 Video – “Incredible by Any Measure…the Great Lakes”

 Links -

http://onthecommons.org/sites/default/files/GreatLakes-Final-Mar2011(2).pdf

http://www.ec.gc.ca/media_archive/press/2005/050526_b_e.htm

PROFITS POUR IN FROM RAIN BARRELS

Excerpt from EMC Ottawa Newspaper, Mar. 2012

The United Nations designated the first World Water Day on March 22, 1993, to highlight the importance of freshwater and to advocate for sustainable management.

More than 80 non-profit groups throughout Ontario officially launched rain barrel sales in their communities on World Water Day, Thursday, March 22 … Rain barrels will be sold for $55 each and all funds will to wards the two local projects.

Rain barrels capture and store rain water collected from roofs through downspouts. They provide chlorine-free and fluoride-free water, which is ideal for flowers, vegetables, lawns, shrubs and trees.

Interesting that they mention the chemical free water is good for plants—Good for People too!!!

Rain barrels divert clean water from sewer systems and can provide cost savings for homeowners who currently pay to have water trucked in or who have a water meter installed.

Each rain barrel is equipped with a mosquito and leaf debris filter basket, an overflow hose, an outlet to join rain barrels together and a spigot at the bottom, which can be connected to a standard garden hose.

These environmentally friendly products were once used to import fruits and vegetables and have been refurbished and repurposed to offer years of reliable service as rain barrels.

They are available in three colours including grey, terracotta and black. All orders must be placed online in advance at http://www.RainBarrel.ca/gssandouc/ or by calling Margaret at 613-824-3599.

The 4th Orleans Fallingbrook Scout Group will also host a rain barrel sale on Saturday April 21 at Fallingbrook Elementary School, 679 Deanscourt Crescent, Orleans, from 10:30 to 1:30 p.m. Orders are now being taken for an April 21st pickup date. All orders must be placed online in advance at http://www.RainBarrel.ca/4thOrleans or by calling 613-212-5212.

Related link -  

http://rainbarrel.ca/

There is still time to book your fundraising rainbarrel.ca sale for this spring!  Non-profit groups, schools and organizations: We are booking now for May and June 2012 sales!

RENEWABLE ENERGY – NEW ENERGY IN NIAGARA FALLS

NEW ENERGY IN NIAGARA 

 ’How a giant hole will help Ontario’s shift away from fossil fuels‘  by Alex Hutchinson, is extremely well researched and well written.

Hutchinson’s on site experience during excavation tunneling is invaluable.  However the article is far too lengthy to include in this blog.  I hope you’ll forgive me for extracting highlights.  I urge you to read Alex’s most interesting article – link provided at end of blog.

I just found a link to a “Big Betty” slideshow that’s pretty awesome and have included the link in the last paragraph of the blog.  Note: the play button – top right hand corner of slide may be partially hidden.

Also, please find a link to OPG’s indepth video presentation in ‘Additional Links’ below.

A tunnel worker by the cutter head on May 13, 2011, to celebrate the safe completion of mining the 10.2 kilometre Niagara Tunnel. (Photo courtesy of Ontario Power Generation)

The Niagara Tunnel route follows the same path as two tunnels built in the 1950s, but at a much greater depth.

… After a five-year battle with the fickle subterranean forces of the Niagara Escarpment, the long-awaited mega-tunnel under Niagara Falls is 99.99 percent complete. Just a metre and a half of solid rock remains…

  the Ontario Premier is preparing to radio the “dig” signal to equipment foreman Kevin Collins, far underground in the control room of the world’s largest hard-rock tunnel boring machine.

We’re assembled in a massive tent alongside the Niagara River… to witness the final “breakthrough”… A succession of speakers in the preceding hour had laid out the epic scale of the project: a $1.6 billion, 10.2-kilometre-long tunnel that has displaced enough rock to fill 100,000 dump trucks. It will ultimately funnel water from its intake above the falls to the Sir Adam Beck Generating Stations downstream at a rate that would fill an Olympicsized swimming pool every five seconds, spinning turbines to power 160,000 Ontario homes… Ontario Power Generation (OPG)… commissioned the unprecedented boring machine… and, since tunnelling machines, like ships, are always female, dubbed her “Big Becky.”

Planning for the tunnel began in 1982… Tunnelling finally started in 2006, but a trip underground is still a voyage into the unknown… tunnellers reached a troublesome layer called the Queenston shale, and as months passed and losses mounted, it began to look like yet another victory for geology in the age-old battle of man versus rock…

The current Sir Adam Beck Generating Stations are angular, modern structures jutting into the river about eight kilometres downstream from the falls… where the Niagara Tunnel resurfaces,… in August 2010… my first tour of the then incomplete tunnel… in the 1950s, when the Sir Adam Beck II Generation Station added 16 more generators to the original 10… These days, as much as 4,000 cubic metres of water per second are diverted through various tunnels and canals around the falls to generate electricity. Canada and the United States signed a treaty in 1950… power generation, split 50-50 between the two countries… the current plan has been scaled back to only one tunnel and no additional generating capacity…”The Ontario government finally gave the go-ahead in 2004; Big Becky was built from scratch in 12 months, and began tunnelling in September 2006… It took 18 years to inch a tunnel under the Thames… but the basic principle is still in use today…

the Ohio-based Robbins Company has built boring machines for every conceivable terrain and location— through the Alps and the Andes, above the Arctic Circle, beneath the English Channel — culminating in the biggest ever built, “Big Becky”…

Water is now expected to begin flowing through the tunnel in December 2013…

within that opening, you could easily stack three eighteen-wheelers on top of one another and have room to spare…The 35-minute drive to the end of the tunnel is like a time-lapse video of the construction in reverse… five kilometres in, they’re laying down the lower third of the concrete lining… At this point, we’re just a few hundred metres from the mist and thunder of the greatest chute on Earth and the equivalent of 29 storeys almost directly below Canada’s tallest hotel… I prepare to enter a 150-metre-long, 4,000-tonne machine whose metal parts are so covered in grime and corroded by the salt oozing from the walls that they look like relics from a century-old coal pit… Big Becky  (click here for video link) is averaging close to 20 metres of tunnelling a day… an engineering feat of immense proportions…once it’s finished, it will remain invisible for the century or more of its service life as it delivers fuel to generate 1.6 billion kilowatt hours per year…This is the feeling I remember, nine months later, as I stand blinking in the bright sun waiting for Dalton McGuinty to give the signal to start up Big Becky for the last time.

 Toronto-based science journalist Alex Hutchinson has a new-found respect for boring machines. http://www.alexhutchinson.net/

http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/magazine/apr12/niagara_energy.asp

Additional links:

Video Link: Niagara Falls Tunnel Project: Ontario Power Generation –  http://www.cliftonhill.com/falls_blog/2010/11/19/niagara-falls-tunnel-project-ontario-power-generation/

http://www.niagarafrontier.com/tunnel.html

http://www.opg.com/power/hydro/new_projects/ntp/image_gallery_process.asp

http://photogallery.thestar.com/935594