Appleton and Glenwood, NL, win Watershed Award for Atlantic Region

IBC and FCM announce winners of first annual Watershed Awards to recognize communities adapting to effects of climate change

TORONTO, May 29 /CNW/ - Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), in partnership with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), has awarded the towns of Appleton and Glenwood, in Newfoundland and Labrador, the 2010 Watershed Award for the Atlantic Region. The two towns won the award for their joint submission, Wetland Sewage Treatment System for the Towns of Appleton and Glenwood.

This is the inaugural year of the Watershed Awards, which are part of FCM's Sustainable Community Awards and were presented this evening at FCM's 73rd Annual Conference and Municipal Expo(TM) in Toronto. The awards were created to recognize Canadian municipalities that have taken proactive measures to reduce their vulnerability to storm and wastewater damage.

"Severe weather resulting from climate change has become a formidable foe," said Bill Adams, Vice-President, Atlantic Region, IBC. "Insurers see first-hand the impact and havoc this causes for individuals and communities. The Watershed Awards shine a spotlight on communities that have taken the initiative to adapt to the effects of climate change to protect their citizens and, in the process, inspire other communities to follow their lead," he added.

FCM President Basil Stewart, mayor of Summerside, PEI, said: "Municipalities are among the leaders in the battle against climate change. It's important to recognize the most innovative measures being implemented by municipal governments across the country to reduce storm and wastewater damage in their communities."

Wetland Sewage Treatment System for the Towns of Appleton and Glenwood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqa3Gvoaq9c

The towns of Appleton and Glenwood implemented an innovative engineered wetland treatment for their combined sewage and stormwater system. Both towns had older sewage treatment plants that had become costly to maintain and operate. With outfalls into the Gander River, the systems were overloaded and could not meet provincial and federal environmental discharge requirements. The project is the first full-scale municipal application of the Kickuth Engineered wetland technology to operate in Canada. The technology was developed in Germany and adapted to Canadian conditions by Abydoz Environmental Inc. of Newfoundland and Labrador. Although wetlands have been used in Canada before, this technology fully provides the secondary treatment of waste water, eliminating the need for other technologies to support the treatment or the need for larger natural wetlands. It also has the benefit of significantly increasing the storage capacity, reducing the risk of sewer backflows.

About IBC

Insurance Bureau of Canada is the national industry association representing Canada's private home, car and business insurers. Its member companies represent 90% of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market in Canada. The P&C insurance industry employs over 110,000 Canadians, pays more than $6 billion in taxes to the federal, provincial and municipal governments, and has a total premium base of $39 billion.

About FCM

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has been the national voice of municipal government since 1901. With more than 1,800 members, FCM represents the interests of municipalities on policy and program matters that fall within federal jurisdiction. Members include Canada's largest cities, small urban and rural communities and 18 provincial and territorial municipal associations.

Note to editors: Video footage is provided (see link above) for the free and unrestricted use of media outlets and can be embedded on your website.

For further information: IBC: Ellen Woodger, [phone]; or Pete Karageorgos, [phone] ext. 4329; FCM: Maurice Gingues, [phone] or [email protected]