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SDG 6 - Strategic Initiatives

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Water: wastewater treatment, discharge guidelines, standards   

Western University adheres to stringent water quality standards and discharge guidelines to protect ecosystems, wildlife, and human health.

Our wastewater is directed via the sanitary sewer system to the Greenway Wastewater Treatment Plant. This ensures compliance with the  Ontario Water Management Quality Guidelines and the City of London’s Wastewater and Stormwater Bylaw. These guidelines are designed to safeguard all forms of aquatic life and their life cycles.

Western has implemented targeted measures to pre-treat greywater before it enters the utility’s sewer system, including the installation of sink grease traps in research laboratories. As a member of the Ontario Water Consortium, Western collaborates with the City of London to demonstrate and validate innovative, near-market wastewater treatment technologies. Western has partnered with the Government of Ontario on wastewater monitoring initiatives to enhance environmental protection and public health. The WesternWater Centre conducts research on water and wastewater treatment.

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Marine and Water System Pollution

Western University has processes in place to prevent and reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities. This includes processes to prevent polluted water from entering the water system, including pollution caused by accidents and incidents at the university. 

Western University abides by federal, provincial, and municipal regulations, as well as our own policies, to protect water resources and prevent marine pollution. The Canadian Environmental Protection Act regulates the disposal of wastes into bodies of water. The Ontario Water Resources Act regulates water quality and prohibits the discharge of pollutants into Ontario’s waters. London’s Water By-law (W-8) prohibits non-potable water from entering the water distribution system, and the Waste Discharge By-law (WM-16) regulates and enforces waste disposal into the public sewage systems. 

Western’s Policy on Environment and Sustainability commits to promoting sustainability as well as reducing waste and hazardous materials. Comprehensive procedures are in place to prevent polluted water from entering the water system, including: stringent protocols for handling and disposing of contaminated biowaste, emergency response plans for accidents, and regular safety audits to ensure compliance with environmental standards. Key policies include: 

• Contaminated Biological Waste Disposal Policy  
• Hazardous Chemical Waste Policy 
• Laboratory Health and Safety Manual 
• Hazardous Waste

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Water Reuse

Western’s Sustainable Design Guidelines promote best practices in sustainable design and advanced building performance. We have seen a 14% reduction in water intensity and a 9% reduction in water use since 2018 (as of 2023). Western’s policy of water reuse includes the installation of 88 water meters that provide real-time data, annual testing of 651 backflow devices, and steam condensate recovery, saving over 200,000m3 of municipal water in 2023. The university also employs low-flow fixtures, greywater management, low-irrigation landscaping, and cooling system improvements to further reduce water consumption. Wastewater is directed to the Greenway Wastewater Treatment plant, and Low Impact Development systems, such as an on-campus rain garden, manage stormwater and support biodiversity. Additionally, Western has increased bottle filling stations and practices sustainable landscaping by reducing high-water requirement plantings and decommissioning irrigation systems.

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Outreach: freshwater ecosystems, water management, overfishing

Western has several programs designed to educate and engage various audiences on the importance of water conservation, management, and overfishing for local and national community outreach.

• The Central Canadian Symposium on Water Quality Research unites experts, researchers, NGOs, and stakeholders to tackle water quality issues. This event encouraged collaboration, knowledge sharing, and problem-solving, with attendees exploring the latest research and connecting with professionals and policymakers. Its interactive workshops provided strategies for improving and conserving water quality.
• STEM@Home: Water Cycle in a Bag is a free kit for kindergarten to grade 2 students that lets participants create a mini water cycle model through hands-on experiments. Educational videos and activities highlight the importance of freshwater ecosystems. The program invites families, schools, and community groups to get involved, promoting informed choices about water conservation.
• For SDG Week Canada, Western’s Centre for Research on Health Equity and Social Inclusion (CRHESI) hosted Life Below Water: A Virtual Dive Into Our Oceans, a free, public, virtual exploration of our oceans, featuring stunning imagery, expert insights, and discussions about marine conservation and sustainable ocean management.
• WaterAid Western is a club that engages students in discussions and activities related to clean water and sanitation issues, while raising awareness and funds on behalf of the organization WaterAid.
• Riverfest is an annual event hosted by the Indigenous Students’ Association, Indigenous Student Centre, and Western Sustainability, and is free for the whole community. The festival events are centered around indigenous perspectives on water management, viewing water as a living entity that requires respect, care, and a reciprocal relationship.
• The Water Management Under Changing Climate​ workshop is geared towards professional development for those engaged in climate change policymaking across all government levels.
• ​The Biodiversity Inventory at Western University invites all members of the community to help gather data for informing future conservation and environmental research activities.
• Peter Baker shared his knowledge of the causes and impacts of overfishing by explaining the science in layman’s terms in a public magazine article called A brief history of the Great Lakes lake trout collapse.
• The Western Centre for Animals on the Move hosts formal and informal events to share ideas, hold workshops, and brainstorm. Animal research includes Lake Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Chinook Salmon, as well as many other fish, birds, insects, and mammals.
• The Master of Environment and Sustainability program teaches about sustainability, the SDGs, marine ecosystem health, and watershed management.
• Both Civil Engineering and AI Systems Engineering have a Smart Cities and Environmental Engineering Option that specifically teaches about Clean Water and Sanitation.

Cooperation on Water Security

Western cooperates with local, regional, national, and global governments on water security. 

• Ontario Water Consortium: as a member, Western collaborates with federal and provincial governments to enhance water security through research, development, and the implementation of innovative water technologies.
• WesternWater Centre: collaborates with government organizations to develop innovative solutions for water security, focusing on clean water supply, resource recovery, and the protection and management of water resources.
• RESTORE: collaborates with government agencies to enhance water security through innovative research, advanced computer modeling, and the development of sustainable water management technologies.
• Global Leadership: Ivey partners with Trojan Technology on the environmental stewardship of water, primarily serving the municipal sector.
• First Nations & Municipalities: Western studies regional relationships between First Nations and municipalities across Ontario.
• Addressing Forever Chemicals: researchers at Western’s Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR) and collaborators from academia, government, and industry are identifying and treating ‘forever chemicals’ in water systems, an ever-increasing environmental concern, which affects more than 2.5 million Canadians.
• Flushable Products: Barry Orr, sewer outreach and control inspector at the City of London, has worked with many groups of Western students amid a long-term effort to drive change with wipe manufacturers and international organizations.
• Global Water Brigades: an international movement of university students working alongside local communities and technicians to implement clean water systems in the developing world.
• Western Heads East: established in highly underserviced areas of Sub-Saharan Africa in collaboration with local NGOs, universities, and medical research institutes, Western Heads East conducts research on groundwater use and water capture and recycling.

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Promoting Water-Conscious Usage

Western University has implemented several initiatives to promote water-conscious usage on campus:

• Efficiency Upgrades: The university has installed low-flow fixtures, greywater management systems, and low-irrigation landscaping to reduce water consumption.
• Refill. Rehydrate. Repeat.: This campaign encourages the use of reusable water bottles and has stopped selling plastic bottled water across campus.
• Waterless Urinals: As part of a pilot project, waterless urinals have been installed in the Faculty of Education building, saving approximately 300,000 liters of water per year.
• Greywater System: The power plant uses a multi-purpose greywater system, which has saved 10 million liters of municipal water since 2017.
• EZ H2O Bottle Filling Stations: These stations are being installed and retrofitted to existing water fountains to encourage the use of reusable bottles.
• Annual Testing: Facilities Management tests 651 backflow devices annually to protect the drinking water from contamination.

These efforts reflect Western University’s commitment to sustainability and water conservation.