Why Water Health
Community Circle co-creates sustainable water health solutions with Indigenous and rural communities.
220
Student trainings
60+
R&D pilot projects
800+
Research and technical publications
6
Long-term water advisories lifted in First Nation Communities
50+
Partner organizations
30%
Cost reduction of water-health systems
15
Years of community-led problem solving
220
Student trainings
60+
R&D pilot projects
800+
Research and technical publications
6
Long-term water advisories lifted in First Nation Communities
50+
Partner organizations
30%
Cost reduction of water-health systems
15
Years of community-led problem solving
What We Do
We address unique and complex water-health and economic challenges in Indigenous and rural communities. This work involves:
Infrastructure
Improving infrastructure that may overlap into areas such as water, energy, connectivity, education, health, and food.
Customization
Engaging highly customized knowledge, technology and tools that respect history, culture, and language.
Reconciliation
Considering new policies and programs in the context of the principles of reconciliation and self-determination.
Collaboration
Collaborating across domains such as water, food, housing, energy, climate change, and environmental concerns.
Co-Innovation
Bringing research out of the lab and into the real world, accelerating advanced scientific exploration.
Implementation
Administering an array of programs that support water health technology adoption.
Infrastructure
Improving infrastructure that may overlap into areas such as water, energy, connectivity, education, health, and food.
Customization
Engaging highly customized knowledge, technology and tools that respect history, culture, and language.
Reconciliation
Considering new policies and programs in the context of the principles of reconciliation and self-determination.
Collaboration
Collaborating across domains such as water, food, housing, energy, climate change, and environmental concerns.
Co-Innovation
Bringing research out of the lab and into the real world, accelerating advanced scientific exploration.
Implementation
Administering an array of programs that support water health technology adoption.
Our Process
We take an iterative approach to problem-solving that encompasses five phases.
Awakening
Participants learn to recognize and shed their assumptions.
Discovery
Identify the value opportunity and articulate a community plan and scope of the partnership.
Story
Build a compelling case around the need to change and potential outcomes.
Engagement
Assess groups affected by the initiative, who will commission the change, who will deliver the change, recipients of the change, and oversee and audit the impact of the change.
Rewards & Risk
The community and project partners share in the risks and sustainable success.
Our Programs
Our vision and mission are translated into a range of programs that support water-health technology adoption that is meaningful and sustainable.
Pipeline-Building
We help to build the pipeline of next-generation water-health professionals to serve Indigenous and rural communities.
Technology
We help to innovate decentralized and centralized technology solutions that can solve for climate change and emerging contaminant challenges
Policy & Regulation
We help develop appropriate regulatory and policy frameworks that support the well-being of the communities we serve.
The Latest
Active Projects
Community water systems: Climate vulnerabilities and resilience opportunities
Conducting Pilot Study of Potential Treatment Options
Case Studies
Water Health Equity
Treading Water
In the News
Canada at the forefront of international research on climate change adaptation and mitigation
Government of Canada invests in cutting-edge research and the next generation of scientists
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Our Story
Our journey started in December 2008, under Canada’s Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, with a primary focus on R&D in rural and Indigenous drinking water areas.
After ten years, our focus shifted from academic research to accelerating the transformation of the ideas into impact for communities. We developed an award-winning, trademarked, problem-solving approach called “Community Circle™”
Support Water Health
You can help increase access to clean, safe water in Indigenous and rural communities. Consider becoming a Community Circle partner or investor to increase the impact and scope of our work.