Ontario: A Global Water Technology Hub Lora Field Ministry of Economic Development, Employment & Infrastructure Ministry of Research & Innovation March 31, 2015
2 WHY ONTARIO? Ontario s Water Sector Ontario is home to 250,000 lakes and thousands of rivers Great Lakes contain 20% of the world s fresh water Provincial and Federal government regulates drinking water and wastewater Ontario s Great Lakes Strategy, 2012 Ontario s Water Sector Strategy 2013 History of innovative water technology: Zenon, Trojan Technologies Ontario s water sector is about 900 companies employing 22,000 people $4.68 billion Canadian water market $557 billion global water market doubling to $1 trillion by 2020 Ontario has 766 water and wastewater processing facilities, 100 technology incubators, 100+ water related research institutes, and 8,000+ post secondary graduates in water-related fields each year.
3 WHY ONTARIO? Water Issues in Ontario Severe weather events $3.2 billion in insurance claims for 2013 in Canada (double of 2012 claims) Population Growth and Urbanization Emerging Contaminants Industrial use Aging Infrastructure Ontario s water infrastructure is estimated to require $35 billion for capital renewal, deferred maintenance and future growth
4 WHY ONTARIO? Ontario s Provincial Strategy for the Water Sector Vision: To become a continental water innovation leader by 2015 Levers Driving Adoption of Innovative Technologies Increasing Investment and Global Market Access Creating a Competitive Advantage Goals Innovation, demonstration and commercialization hub for water technologies by 2015 Expand Ontario s export sales and investment in water technologies and services by 2015 Increase the number of major infrastructure projects in Ontario utilizing innovative technologies and financing methods Partners include:
5 WHY ONTARIO? Technology Trends 1. Large municipal installations: infrastructure management, efficiency (including leakage detection, prediction & management, reduced energy use, pollutant removal, innovative storm water management); trenchless rehabilitation; monitoring of water flow 2. Small & Remote (including First Nations) installations: business solutions tailored to small communities; applicable to developing world and distributed water systems; 3. Industrial: food and beverage; closed loop systems; waste management; water usage reduction 4. Agriculture: irrigation management, groundwater protection 5. Energy and nutrient recovery: making wastewater facilities energypositive profit centres; 6. ICT-enabled system optimization: monitoring, energy optimization, watersheds, leak detection
6 WHY ONTARIO? Global Trends in Wastewater Treatment 1. Name change: Resource recovery plants 2. Future will be energy generation versus consumption 3. Public education Gothenburg, Sweden Water Resource Centre, Sechelt BC NEWater Singapore
7 WHY ONTARIO? Technology Demonstration Southern Ontario Water Consortium (SOWC) The SOWC is a $52 million project for the research, development, demonstration and testing of water and wastewater technologies, combining the expertise and resources of eight universities, 3 municipalities and 70 local companies including Trojan Technologies and IBM 6 focus areas: Watersheds, Wastewater, Ecotoxicology, Drinking Water, Analytical Techniques, Sensors Companies can test their technology on municipal wastewater streams in London and Guelph facilities
8 WHY ONTARIO? Technology Demonstration and Research in Ontario Other technologies demonstration opportunities At a small/remote municipality through Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) Hamilton municipal wastewater treatment facility Burlington s Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Wastewater Technology Centre Kawartha Lakes, Water Research & Innovation Network (WRAIN) Walkerton, Water Innovation Business Park, Walkerton Clean Water Centre At a food processor, facilitated by BLOOM Centre for Sustainability Conduct R&D with top global researchers in Ontario University of Waterloo, The Water Institute rated one of top 10 global water research centres Fleming College, Centre for Alternative Wastewater Technologies (CAWT) Ryerson Urban Water Centre Plus 100 more water related research institutes and centres!
9 WHY ONTARIO? Some Ontario Resources
Contact: Lora Field, PhD Senior Sector Advisor Investment & Industry Division Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure Ministry of Research and Innovation 416-314-3292 lora.field@ontario.ca InvestInOntario.com SourceFromOntario.com