Toronto

The capital of the Canadian province of Ontario, Toronto is located within the Golden Horseshoe in Southern Ontario on the northern shore of Lake Ontario. The diverse population of Toronto reflects its current and historical role as an important destination for immigrants to Canada. The City of Toronto ensures that residents, businesses and visitors have access to clean, safe drinking water. This is done through a complex water treatment process and continuous testing so that water always meets or exceeds the Safe Drinking Water Act set by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC).

The Venue

The 9th International Young Water Professionals Conference 2019 will be held at the Ryerson University –  George Vari Engineering and Computer Centre, 245 Church Street, M5B1Z4, Toronto, Canada

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The Great Lakes

Toronto is situated on the shores of Lake Ontario which is part of North America’s Great Lakes system. The Great Lakes region is well known for its excellent track record in watershed management and protection. Indeed, the International Joint Commission (IJC) is a Canadian-American body charged with managing and protecting transboundary waters such as The Great Lakes. The Great Lakes is also the wine region, with wineries in the Niagara region located just a little over an hour from downtown Toronto. It is highly recommended to add a day or two to your conference travel plans to explore this beautiful region.

1 billion gallons of potable water daily

Toronto Water is one of North America’s largest water utilities, providing over 1 billion gallons of potable water to customers each day. Toronto has 4 water treatment plants as well as 4 wastewater treatment plants that operate 24/7, 365 days a year. Raw water is collected from Lake Ontario through intake pipes deep below the lake and kilometers away from shore. It is then treated using the latest technology and pumped via two dozen pumping stations, 11 underground reservoirs and four elevated storage tanks, and delivered through more than 6,000 km of watermains. The water in Toronto may have a different taste than you are used to, especially due to the chlorine levels which are typically higher in North America than in Europe for example.

Headquarters of industry leaders

The province of Ontario is also host to several headquarters of water and wastewater treatment industry leaders such as GE (acquired by Suez), a leading provider of water treatment equipment, and Trojan Technologies, producer of world renowned UV disinfection solutions. Pure Technologies offers proactive infrastructure management solutions, which include a suite of inspection tools and engineering analysis practices to help utility operators around the world maximize budgets for rehabilitation and replacement programs. Anderson Water Systems specializes in industrial process water treatment systems for power plants, refineries, chemical production facilities, pulp and paper mills, food and beverage production, pharmaceutical and manufacturing facilities.

Leading edge research

As one of the few “water hubs” in the world, Ontario hosts a rich ecosystem of technology providers, research universities, and policy-centered organizations. In Toronto only, Ryerson University, University of Toronto and WaterTAP Ontario are key players in the sector. Ryerson Urban Water aims to be Canada’s preeminent institution on urban water issues through applied research, innovation, education, community outreach, and policy development. The Institute for Water Innovation at University of Toronto conducts research to address industrial, commercial, and domestic water challenges. WaterTAP is Ontario’s water technology accelerator program, connecting water technology entrepreneurs with utilities and investors to keep the water sector prospering.

Join us in Toronto!