The City of Cambridge Cambridge • Ontario • Canada

Cambridge WATERS stands for "Cambridge Water Awareness Through Education and Resource Stewardship" and the name represents the group's focus on education, surface and groundwater protection, and awareness building activities.

Cambridge WATERS is a subcommittee of the Cambridge Environmental Advisory Committee (CEAC). Cambridge WATERS Committee is composed of volunteers within business, agriculture, education, government, and citizen organization/interest groups.

Cambridge WATERS purpose is to:

• educate the public on the importance of groundwater
• promote lifestyle changes to help conserve groundwater; and
• encourage participation in community based projects

For ten years, the work of the Cambridge WATERS Committee has been recognized by the Groundwater Foundation when they have designated Cambridge as a Groundwater Guardian community. At present, Cambridge is the only community in Canada designated as a Groundwater Guardian community, joining over 150 American communities. Visit the Groundwater Foundation website

Current Cambridge WATERS Projects

The Cambridge WATERS volunteers are working on four projects in 2010-2011. The projects aim to engage the general public more effectively and more memorably at Riverfest and other public events as well as the 53 schools in Cambridge, and build a better understanding of our local water resource and the interconnection between our use and conservation - "what happens on the land is reflected in our water." In 2010-2011 Cambridge WATERS volunteers wish to develop the following products along with our community partners:

1. Elementary Teacher Resource

The project was initiated by a teacher member of Cambridge WATERS who identified a gap in the materials available to educators. She noted that large binders of resources, many websites, many worksheets, etc. existed but they were too cumbersome for teachers to use and store and were "generic" and left the local Cambridge reference to the teacher to develop. Cambridge WATERS has been working on this project for some time and would like to complete and launch it in 2010 through a workshop with teachers and by distributing one copy to a champion elementary teacher within each of the 53 schools in Cambridge.

2. Interactive Water Awareness Display

Cambridge WATERS would like to enhance its public awareness display, harness the excellent resources of agency partners within the region (Waterloo Region, Children's Grounwater Festival, Grand River Conservation Authority) and provide information on water issues such as Source Water Protection, as well as increase the interactivity of the display for both children and adults.

3. Cambridge Water Tour

The Cambridge Environmental Advisory Committee (CEAC) developed a "Cambridge Natural Heritage Tour" as a celebration for its 10th anniversary. The 50-page booklet includes photos and a description (and a tour map) of 29 natural heritage sites in Cambridge and their significance. Cambridge WATERS, as a standing subcommittee of CEAC, would like to repeat the success of the natural heritage tour but instead create a water-focused tour. The tour would highlight and describe significant ground and surface water resources, as well as elements of the drinking and wastewater system (e.g. cold water streams, recharge wetlands, Manheim treatment plant, sewage treatment plants, groundwater seep aeas and springs, Preston Springs hotel, etc.) This project is in the conceptual/development stages and some ideas include producing a booklet, a google-maps based webpage, a school tour guide (for field trips), and/or annual bus tour event.

4. Green Sites Program designation for four City properties

The Groundwater Guardian (GG) Green Site program was developed to recognize good stewards of groundwater by encouraging managers of green spaces to implement, measure and document their groundwater-friendly practices. The program documents current practices related to pesticide and fertilizer use, water use, pollution prevention, water quality, and environmental stewardship. Managers of green spaces can apply for Green Site designation and must re-certify every year (Groundwater Guardian Green Site Program: www.groundwater.org) Cambridge WATERS would like to launch the program and recognize good stewardship (consistant with its direct-action objective of "Resource Stewardship") through the Green Sites program in Cambridge.

If you are a teacher, water professional, and/or resident of Cambridge interested in local water issues and education join us in developing these projects - we need your help!

THANKS TO THE RBC BLUE WATER PROJECT!
June 11, 2010
Cambridge WATERS Chair John Goodwin and member Susan Galvao joined RBC branch manager Noella DeSousa and Mike O'Connor at the 79 Main St. branch to accept a $5,000 cheque on RBC Blue Water Day in order to support Cambrigde WATERS projects...see photo and media release below ("RBC Media Alert City and Cambridge WATERS grant")

Introduction
Cambridge WATERS is currently the only Groundwater Guardian community in Canada (besides the affiliate member, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo). Since 1997, Cambridge WATERS has undertaken groundwater protection and conservation related activities including the development of educational posters and teaching packages, and participated in public awareness events and wellhead protection implementation plans.

Milestones
December 2007, Cambridge WATERS celebrated its 10th anniversary.

Cambridge Groundwater Guardian Founder, Paul Puodziunas, 1952-2006
December 2007 will mark ten years since the designation of Cambridge (Ontario, Canada) as a Groundwater Guardian Community by the Groundwater Foundation. Paul Puodziunas, a resident of nearby Brantford, and April Souwand, the City's Senior Environmental Planner, were instrumental in the formation of the first Groundwater Guardian committee. The City had been obtaining its water supply from groundwater for more than 100 years and the municipal water supply infrastructure and administration were long established. As a charter member of Groundwater Guardian and its first Chair, Paul recognized the need for improved public awareness about groundwater resources, and worked tirelessly over the next decade on the committee's initiatives to promote education about groundwater in Cambridge. In his own pleasant style, Paul was a willing and vigorous participant in all Groundwater Guardian activities.

Paul graduated with a B. Sc. in Earth Sciences (University of Waterloo) in 1975. Over the next 30 years Paul had an exciting and varied career in the geosciences. He worked in oil and gas exploration including the off-shore, water-resource development in Tanzania, nuclear geological-repository siting in Europe, and in the groundwater consulting industry across Canada. Sadly, on August 29, 2006, Paul lost a struggle with leukemia at the age of 54. He is survived by his parents, Enna and Victor, and his brother Leonard. He leaves many friends, who are saddened by his loss but remember the commitment, vibrancy and smile so prevalent during his active life.

Cambridge Groundwater Facts
The City of Cambridge is situated in the heart of Southern Ontario, Canada, approximately a one hour drive west of Toronto, and a three hour drive northeast of Detroit. The City is a local area municipality within the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, the largest urban area dependent upon groundwater in Canada. Cambridge is situated at the confluence of the Grand and Speed rivers which are important sources of drinking water for a number of communities. Underlying bedrock aquifers supply most of the drinking water to Cambridge (population 130,000) as well as to the other municipalities within the Regional Municipality of Waterloo (which has a total population of approximately 500,000). The City relies on twenty-seven water supply wells up to 60 metres (200 feet) deep. The highest producing wells occur in the heart of the City and these supply almost half of the water used by residents and industries. Many of these wells date back to the 1900's with the first wells being drilled in 1891. Approximately 80% of the water consumption in the City is drawn from groundwater. The remaining 20% comes from the Grand River and is pumped into the Manheim aquifer and mixed with groundwater before distribution. Although this precious resource is relied upon as our source of drinking water, other water uses place a great strain on its availability. However, attitudes towards water usage and conservation have begun to change with the recent water restriction by-laws, educational activities and events, and very successful incentive programs (rainbarrels, high-efficiency toilet replacement programs, among others).

The Big Groundwater Picture
Walkerton is a small town of about 6,000 people that is only a 1.5 hour drive north-west of Cambridge. And like Cambridge it too is dependent on groundwater as its source of drinking water. In May 2000, several serious flaws in Walkerton's municipal drinking water system resulted in seven deaths and more than 2,300 cases of waterborne disease affecting almost half the residents of the town. As a result of that tragedy a public inquiry identified the need for government actions and planning that focused on "source water protection" at the watershed / regional level in the Province of Ontario. Cambridge WATERS has created displays and information materials, in partnership with the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and looks forward to greater involvement in other source water protection efforts.

The Future of Cambridge WATERS?
As Dave Smyth, long-time Cambridge WATERS member, remarked in noting the longevity of the group, "our mandate has not run dry." Whereas single-issue advocacy groups, or task forces, disband at the end of their mandate, Cambridge WATERS has stayed the course, and continues to develop new ways to tell the groundwater story. With expected and continued growth within the City, and the new requirements under Provincial source water protection legislation, Cambridge WATERS will likely be busier than ever in the coming years!

Cambridge WATERS Teaching Resources
The following teaching resources are available free of charge from Cambridge WATERS. Please use the online form. to request teaching resources.

• Where Does My Drinking Water Come From and Where Does It Go? -- This is a poster and colouring book exercise aimed at Grade 3 and 4 children that helps them discover the system and occupations behind our drinking water supply. As the Ontario Curriculum changes, so do our teaching resources. A grade 2 version of this package will be available soon.

• Cambridge: A Groundwater Community -- This is a full-colour poster with classroom exercises on the back aimed at Grade 8 children that helps them learn about the groundwater resource and how to protect it.

Cambridge WATERS supports Groundwater Guardian GREEN SITES program
The Groundwater Guardian (GG) Green Site program recognizes good stewards of groundwater by encouraging managers of highly-managed green spaces (golf courses, ball fields, education campuses, parks, etc.) to implement, measure, and document their groundwater-friendly practices related to chemical use, water use, pollution prevention, water quality, and environmental stewardship. To get started, to apply, or to learn more about this program please visit the Groundwater Guardian Green Sites page at _http://www.groundwater.org/gg/greensites.html

New members are always welcome. For more information on Cambridge WATERS or to attend one of our monthly meetings, please call 519.740.4650 ext 4559 or email us at willmsp@cambridge.ca. Our mailing address is: Cambridge Waters c/o Paul Willms, Environmental Planner, City of Cambridge, PO Box 669, 3rd Floor, 50 Dickson Street, Cambridge, Ontario, N1R 5W8.

For more information about the Region of Waterloo's Community Involvement and Awareness groundwater programs (such as the Waterloo Wellington Children's Water Festival, Business and Rural Groundwater programs, videos, games, studies, reports, teachers resources and posters) click here

For more information on water conservation, rain barrels, Greenbrook water conservation demonstration gardens, toilet replacement program, and other Region water testing, monitoring, water restriction by-law information, please click here

Source water protection planning is currently underway at the Region of Waterloo and Grand River Conservation Authority (Lake Erie Source Protection Region). For more information please click on the following links:

Region of Waterloo
Lake Erie Source Protection Region
Grand River Conservation Authority
Cambridge Drinking Water Frequently Asked Questions

Ten Ways to Protect and Conserve Groundwater:

1. Dispose of chemicals properly.
2. Follow the lawn watering restrictions in your community.
3. Limit the amount of fertilizer used on plants.
4. Take short showers.
5. Shut off water while brushing your teeth.
6. Run full loads of dishes and laundry.
7. Check for leaky faucets and have them fixed.
8. Water plants only when necessary and plant drought resistant plants in your garden.
9. Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator.
10. Get involved in water education.

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