Water Resources: News and Highlights

2021

March 12, 2021

2020

November 23, 2020

September 9, 2020

April 9, 2020

January 30, 2020

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2019

October 11, 2019

August 23, 2019

  • Drinking Water Safety Annual Report 2018
    • This annual report is written to provide current information on the overall state of public water supplies in Newfoundland and Labrador and to outline the progress of activities and accomplishments under the multi-barrier strategic action plan for drinking water safety. The report also outlines government’s plan for ensuring safe drinking water in the future.

July 8, 2019

March 21, 2019

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2018

December 20, 2018

September 14, 2018

June 27, 2018

April 3, 2018

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2017

December 5, 2017

July 14, 2017

May 18, 2017

May 12, 2017

May 9, 2017

February 23, 2017

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2016

October 20, 2016

July 28, 2016

June 29, 2016

April 21, 2016

March 22, 2016

  • Drinking Water Safety Annual Report 2015 (993 KB)
    This annual report is written to provide current information on the overall state of public water supplies in Newfoundland and Labrador and to outline the progress of activities and accomplishments under the multi-barrier strategic action plan for drinking water safety. The report also outlines government’s plan for ensuring safe drinking water in the future.

February 19, 2016

January 28, 2016

  • Flood Risk Mapping Update Project for the Goulds and Petty Harbour Area
    • Flood risk mapping for the Goulds and Petty Harbour 2013 study has been updated. This project incorporates the Dirty Brook Emergency Overflow Diversion in the Goulds. Map Sheets 14, 15, 19 and 20 from the original study have been updated.
    • This update provides flood lines for the 1:20 and 1:100 annual exceedance probability (AEP) flood event, flood lines based on current climate change projections and flood inundation depth mapping for the sheets listed above.

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2015

November 19, 2015

November 9, 2015

August 18, 2015

  • Flood Risk Mapping for the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s
    • Flood risk mapping was updated for the Town of Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s. The completed study provides flood lines for the 1:20 and 1:100 annual exceedance probability (AEP) flood event, flood lines based on current climate change projections, flood inundation depth mapping, flood hazard mapping and velocity distribution mapping.

August 7, 2015

May 21, 2015

March 26, 2015

January 9, 2015

  • Regional Flood Frequency Analysis for Newfoundland and Labrador (2014)
    The annual cost of flooding to public property in Newfoundland and Labrador is estimated to be in the millions of dollars range. Accurate flood flow estimates are needed for the efficient design of instream structures (culverts, bridges, spillways, etc.) and for floodplain management. The locations for which flood flow estimates are required usually do not have streamflow data which could be used to directly estimate the flood flows. This study, like four previous studies (1971, 1984, 1990, 1999), derives a set of equations for estimating return period flood flows in ungauged watersheds. The 2014 study is the first to provide equations for Labrador.

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2014

December 19, 2014

October 9, 2014

August 15, 2014

  • Hurricane Season Flood Alerts
    • The Hurricane Season Flood Alert System (HSFAS) is based on forecasted precipitation amounts and seeks to provide communities with flood warning services as a key climate change adaptation and public safety tool.Alerts are provided to communities that have Flood Risk Mapping Studies (FRMS) or have published intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves from which precipitation based flood triggers can be derived. The HSFAS is to help communities in the province prepare for storms and avoid future high-cost expenditures in repairs and damages.The HSFAS is operational during the peak hurricane months of June to December.

July 31, 2014

July 16, 2014

March 25, 2014

  • Drinking Water Safety Annual Report 2013 (1.2 MB)
    This annual report is written to provide current information on the overall state of public water supplies in Newfoundland and Labrador and to outline the progress of activities and accomplishments under the multi-barrier strategic action plan for drinking water safety. The report also outlines government’s plan for ensuring safe drinking water in the future.

February 26, 2014

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2013

December 19, 2013

August 13, 2013

July 5, 2013

June 12, 2013

  • Flood Risk Mapping Project Goulds and Petty Harbour Area
    • Flood risk mapping was updated for the Goulds area of the City of St. John’s and the Petty Harbour area of the Town of Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove. The completed study provides flood lines for the 1:20 and 1:100 annual exceedance probability (AEP) flood event, flood lines based on current climate change projections, and flood inundation depth mapping.

May 21, 2013

May 1, 2013

  • Hydrology of the Transboundary Rivers of Southern Labrador (16.6 MB)
    Newfoundland and Labrador operates a hydrometric network that measures streamflow at selected stations on an hourly basis. 14 stations are located in watersheds that are shared with the province of Quebec. The report provides an overview of available hydrotechnical data in this region of the province.
  • Flood Risk Mapping Project Corner Brook Stream and Petrie’s Brook
    The City of Corner Brook made a request to the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment undertake a flood risk mapping study for two river systems in the City with a history of flooding. The completed study provides flood lines for the 1:20 and 1:100 annual exceedance probability (AEP) flood event, flood lines based on current climate change projections, and flood inundation depth mapping.

March 21, 2013

  • Drinking Water Safety Annual Report 2012 3.94 MB
    This annual report is written to provide current information pm the overall state of public water supplies in Newfoundland and Labrador and to outline the progress of activities and accomplishments under the multi-barrier strategic action plan for drinking water safety. The report also outlines government’s plan for ensuring safe drinking water in the future.

March 8, 2013

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2012

September 6, 2012

  • Town of Logy Bay – Middle Cove – Outer Cove Flood Risk Mapping Study
    • A flood risk mapping study was completed by the Town of Logy Bay – Middle Cove – Outer Cove in response to development pressures in the Town’s watersheds. Provided in the study are the flood lines for the 1:20 and 1:100 annual exceedance probability (AEP) flood event, flood lines based on current climate change projections, flood inundation depth mapping and, additionally, flood lines are provided for an ultimate development scenario within the Town’s watersheds.

September 4, 2012

  • Flood Risk Mapping Project for Shearstown/Bay Roberts Area and Hydrotechnical Study of Stephenville Crossing/Black Duck Siding
    • In 2007, a “State of Emergency” was declared in Shearstown as a result of flood damages caused by Tropical Storm Chantal. The flood risk mapping study for Shearstown was initiated in response to the event. Flood risk mapping for Stephenville Crossing/Black Duck Siding was initiated to update the 1988 Hydrotechnical Study of the Stephenville Crossing and Black Duck Siding Area.
    • Provided in the studies are the flood lines for the 1:20 and 1:100 annual exceedance probability (AEP) flood event and the 1:20 and 1:100 AEP flood event based on current climate change projections. For the first time, inundation depth mapping, indicating the depth of the flood water, has been developed for each event and it is included in the study. It is particularly useful for emergency response and planning.

August 17, 2012

June 20, 2012

April 12, 2012

April 13, 2012

March 15, 2012

January 20, 2012

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2011

December 21, 2011

September 7, 2011

  • Monitoring Snow Extent and Snow Water Equivalent on the Island of Newfoundland
    Snow monitoring provides essential information for flood forecasting, hydropower generation, wildlife studies, drinking water reservoir operation, and for climate change adaptation in the province. The Water Resources Management Division (WRMD) provides flood forecasting services, in which snow monitoring has been integrated, for the communities of Badger, in the Exploits River Basin, and Deer Lake and Steady Brook, in the Humber River Basin.

September 2, 2011

August 5, 2011

May 31, 2011

April 21, 2011

Mar 8, 2011

Feb 21, 2011

Feb 8, 2011

  • Water Resources Atlas of Newfoundland – 1992
    The Water Resources Atlas of Newfoundland is a source of general information on water resources in the province as well as a reference in the preliminary planning and design stages of water resource projects. The Atlas describes the physiography, geology, climatology, hydrology, water quality, groundwater and water uses of the province. The hydrology section gives information on: drainage basins, river gauges, major lakes, reservoirs, river ice, flood zones, as well as maximum, minimum, mean, monthly and annual streamflows. The Atlas also includes 32 summary maps accompanied by supporting text, illustrations and photographs.

February 1, 2011

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2010

December 8, 2010

December 6, 2010

September 14, 2010

August 11, 2010

  • The Application of Earth Observation Technology to Improve Water Resource Management in Newfoundland and Labrador (1.0 MB) Water resource issues are often very complex and frequently require large amounts of diverse data. Effective management of water resources can be greatly aided by methods which allow for timely and accurate data collection. The use of Earth Observation (EO) technologies such as satellite based monitoring can be very useful as it can provide a cost-effective means of replacing or complimenting field data collection. This report outlines current and future uses of EO technologies in the Water Resources Management Division.

July 30, 2010

June 10, 2010

  • Evaluation of Existing Potable Water Dispensing Units and Recommendations for Design and Operational Guidelines (11 MB)
    Potable Water Dispensing Units (PWDUs) are small scale drinking water treatment systems that treat only a fraction of the total water demand, generally that used for drinking water. Treated water is stored on-site at a centralized location where residents can then collect their water in sanitized containers. Seven such systems exist in the province in small, rural communities. This study evaluates the performance, operation and maintenance of existing PWDUs and provides recommendations for improvements for future PWDU systems.

March 24, 2010

  • Drinking Water Safety Annual Report 2009 (6.4 MB)
    This annual report is written to provide current information on the overall state of public water supplies in Newfoundland and Labrador and to outline the progress of activities and accomplishments under the multi-barrier strategic action plan for drinking water safety. The report also outlines government’s plan for ensuring safe drinking water in the future.
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Water Resources Portal
    The new 2008-09 flood risk mapping study has updated the 1:20 and 1:100 year flood lines. Additionally for the first time, this study, includes a 1:100 year climate change flood line to show potential changes in the flood zone due to future climate change. This reflects new practices in flood risk mapping, which include predicting the effect of climate change, to facilitate climate change adaptation.

March 19, 2010

February 6, 2010

  • Regional Water Resources Studies
    Regional water resources studies have been completed for the Island portion of the province during two time periods. In 1968 a study was completed for some regions and between 1987 and 1993 studies were completed for all of the Island. These studies provide background information to assist in water planning and management activities.

January 6, 2010

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2009

October 19, 2009

October 16, 2009

  • Hydrotechnical Study of Stephenville
    Flood risk mapping studies have been completed previously for the Town of Stephenville in 1984 and 1996. However a new flood risk mapping study was undertaken in 2008-09, due to changes in hydrology, climate and new infrastructure for flood protection.
  • The new 2008-09 flood risk mapping study has updated the 1:20 and 1:100 year flood lines. Additionally for the first time, this study, includes a 1:100 year climate change flood line to show potential changes in the flood zone due to future climate change. This reflects new practices in flood risk mapping, which include predicting the effect of climate change, to facilitate climate change adaptation.

July 16, 2009

  • Pilot Study to Develop an Action Plan on Indicators for Monitoring Corrosion Control in Drinking Water (950 KB)
    This is a report on the Pilot Study to Develop an Action Plan on Indicators for Monitoring Corrosion Control in Drinking Water in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The project was a joint effort between the departments of Health and Community Services, Municipal Affairs, and Environment and Climate Change to better understand the impacts of water distribution system corrosion rates on the water quality at a consumer’s tap. This report represents the results of an intensive sampling and data collection program as well as an analysis of the resulting data trends with respect to overall water quality and distribution system parameters.
  • Blue-Green Algae Report 2008 (4.1 MB)
    This report provides an overview of blue-green algae blooms and the work the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment has undertaken to monitor the presence of blue-green algae in provincial surface water bodies.

June 30, 2009

June 26, 2009

June 25, 2009

  • A Guide to Storage Yield Analysis at Unguaged River Sites
    The effect of man-made instream storage on the naturally variable rate of streamflow must be considered in the assessment of surface water availability for any major use such as municipal water supply and hydro power generation. When site specific streamflow data are not available, storage-yield curves determined at one or more nearby gauging stations may have to be used. This guide presents the updated non-dimensional storage-yield curves for 66 gauged watersheds.
  • Characteristics and Estimation of Minimum Streamflows for the Island of Newfoundland
    This report describes the characteristics of low streamflows for the Island of Newfoundland. Equations which may be used to predict the expected low flow of given duration and return period on ungauged streams are then presented. The characteristics and estimation of low flows are important for water resources engineering and management applications such as estimating available water supply for municipal and industrial uses, determining the waste-water effluent dilution period of a receiving stream and generally for environmental impact studies.

June 12, 2009

  • Best Management Practices for the Control of Disinfection by-Products in Drinking Water Systems in Newfoundland and Labrador
    This report provides information on disinfection by-products (DBPs), causative factors and their characteristics, corrective measures for reducing DBPs, and an integrated decision making framework for selecting DBP corrective measures. The report focuses on the situation and experiences of smaller communities in Newfoundland and Labrador and is intended for reference by communities, consultants and government. Hydraulic modelling and analysis using EPANET was performed on several water distribution systems in order to evaluate the effectiveness of various DBP corrective measures.

June 3, 2009

  • Groundwater supply assessment and reporting guidelines for subdivisions serviced by individual private wells
    The approval of new unserviced subdivisions or the addition of unserviced lots to existing unserviced subdivisions require that a groundwater assessment be done to determine with high probability that acceptable quality and quantity drinking water will be available to homeowners for both the short and long term. These guidelines provide administrative and technical guidance to developers applying for subdivision approval and ensure that the development proposals are submitted with the required technical support.

May 26, 2009

  • Presentations for the 2009 Water Well Workshop are now available. The workshop provides industry personnel with the latest information and support necessary to enhance the public image and create an awareness of the importance of groundwater resources in this Province.

May 20, 2009

May 25, 2009

  • Drinking Water Safety Annual Report 2008 (10 MB)
    This annual report is written to provide current information on the overall state of public water supplies in Newfoundland and Labrador and to outline the progress of activities and accomplishments under the multi-barrier strategic action plan for drinking water safety. The report also outlines government’s plan for ensuring safe drinking water in the future.

March 20, 2009

February 5, 2009

  • Hydrogeological Assessment of Cold Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador (4.8 MB)
    The objective of this study is to determine what impact, if any; new private developments in Cold Brook will have on the Town of Stephenville water supply.
  • Hydrogeology of Agricultural Development Areas Newfoundland and Labrador
    This study is a detailed hydrogeological assessment of Agricultural Designated Areas (ADAs) in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It was carried out as part of the Canada – Newfoundland and Labrador National Water Supply Expansion Program to increase knowledge of the hydrogeology of the province’s ADAs, and to determine the suitability and availability of groundwater supply for agricultural needs in these areas.
  • Hydrogeology of Western Newfoundland
    This is the first of four new hydrogeology reports that will cover all areas of the province. The main objective of this study is to determine the physical characteristics of the major geological units in relation to the occurrence, availability, and quality of the constituent groundwater and to define in latter terms the aquifer potential. This study is based entirely on available data sources for the groundwater resources of the Western Newfoundland region. Three accompanying maps outline the hydrogeological resources.

January 21, 2009

  • A policy that establishes the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment’s drinking water quality monitoring and reporting requirements for all public water supplies has been posted.

January 6, 2009

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2008

September 26, 2008

  • Flood Risk Maps – Hydrotechnical Reports and AutoCAD mapping
    The province, in cooperation with the federal government, undertook hydrotechnical studies and mapping of flood risk areas. The maps, completed for 38 communities, delineate the flood risk zones for floods with a return period of 20 years (5% chance in any year) and 100 years (1% chance in any year). This page has scanned pdf files of all of the hydrotechnical reports produced under this program. It also has digital mapping in the form of AutoCAD files for almost all of these areas.
  • Drinking water quality data for the Spring 2008 season is now available for:

July 27, 2008

June 10, 2008

May 9, 2008

  • Drinking Water Safety Annual Report 2007 (1.8 MB)
    This annual report is written to provide current information on the overall state of public water supplies in Newfoundland and Labrador and to outline the progress of activities and accomplishments under the multi-barrier strategic action plan for drinking water safety. The report also outlines government’s plan for ensuring safe drinking water in the future.

April 30, 2008

April 25, 2008

  • Water Well Data for Newfoundland and Labrador 1950 – March 2008 is now available on CD. The CD contains all information pertaining to drilled water wells in the province. The data is current to March, 2008 and contains approximately 17,800 entries.
  • Farmers and the general public in Newfoundland and Labrador can now go on line to track groundwater levels and water quality in selected farming areas of the province.
  • The Agri-food Water Quality Index (AFWQI) calculator is a tool for determining how good a water supply is for agricultural purposes such as irrigation and livestock watering.

February 29, 2008

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