The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME), in developing the Canada-wide Strategies for the Management of Municipal Wastewater and Biosolids, identified the need for coordinated scientific research. Although significant research on municipal wastewater and biosolids was being undertaken in Canada, it lacked coordination in priority setting, execution and dissemination. To address these issues, CCME proposed the formation of a Science and Research Coordination Body. The Canadian Water Network (CWN), the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA), Environment Canada, and the CCME formed an initial Science and Research Coordination Body and developed a broad mandate with efforts to be focused in three strategic areas:

• Developing a prioritized, coordinated National Research Agenda for Wastewater and Biosolids (the Agenda) through a consultative process (led by Environment Canada).
• Implementing the Agenda by facilitating/managing partner-based research consortia (led by the CWN).
• Disseminating research information through workshops, newsletters, and a national website (led by the CWWA).

The draft National Research Agenda has been prepared. Stakeholders were consulted on the draft Agenda at the CWWA Window on Ottawa Workshop in November, 2011. Feedback from the workshop has been analyzed and incorporated into the revised document, which has been posted at the CWN website for full public consultation until February 21.  The goal is to finalize the Agenda by spring, 2012.

Contact: Peter Seto, 905-336-6438, Peter.Seto@ec.gc.ca, Water Science and Technology Directorate