Projects
Community water systems: Climate vulnerabilities and resilience opportunities
Conducting Pilot Study of Potential Treatment Options
Increasing Public Works Capacity in Remote Communities through Operators’ Walkthrough Lab (OWL)
First Nations Water Systems Locator
This map shows First Nations water systems in British Columbia and Yukon. Our goal is to secure funding to create a peer network directory of all different water systems so operators can share and learn best practices.
Past Projects
Water Health Equity
One in six Canadians, including the majority of 1.6 million Indigenous people, live in rural areas and often face exposure to negative health and socio-economic impacts from unsafe drinking water. It’s a persistent crisis that has dragged on for decades, a dubious achievement for a rich nation often celebrated as a global humanitarian and human rights leader.
Treading Water
To tackle water advisories in Indigenous communities, we created "Treading Water," a 20-minute play with UBC's research-based theatre experts. The play highlights the experiences of water operators and communities, aiming to spark dialogue on water quality issues.
Operators’ Walkthrough Lab (OWL): Digital Circle in Action
RESEAU created AR apps for virtual walkthroughs of water treatment plants, enabling community input, reducing design errors, and providing remote monitoring and training. These tools were piloted at Yukon University in 2020 to support operator training and design accuracy.
Rapid Implementation of Localized Drinking Water Solutions during Emergencies
The Zhiibaahaasing First Nation faced urgent water treatment needs due to growth and aging equipment. After flood damage in summer 2020, a collaborative team rapidly designed, built, and delivered a new water treatment plant in just three months, meeting both emergency and long-term community needs.
Mobilizing Symphony
World Water Day highlights the 2.2 billion people without safe water. RESEAU used an arts-based approach to discuss innovative responses to climate change’s impact on water.
Discovering Common Ground
A collaborative project lifted long-standing Boil Water Advisories in two small First Nations reserves in BC by implementing point-of-entry systems. The effort involved multiple partners focusing on site-specific, cost-effective solutions.
Our Approach is Different
When presented with a water quality challenge, we design for strong community ownership. This means gradual change, deliberate management, and successful handoffs.
We pay special attention to the challenges that innovation can place on each community and highlight areas that must not be compromised. Needed experts are recruited early and intentionally.
We ensure our insights are independent, objective, and tailored to each community’s goals and priorities to build trust and confidence.
