Shifting from Sequential to Simultaneous
CHALLENGE: The Kleekhoot Reserve of the Hupacasath First Nation community, located near Port Alberni, BC, currently has no water treatment system. The community is a block-funded Nation, and so any cost reductions that may be achieved during the project will maximize their limited investment. The community’s desires include simplicity of operation, minimal operating and maintenance footprint and continuous training for local operators.
SOLUTION: The community has been reaching out to innovators and exploring affordable treatment options for their drinking water system. In particular, they have been interested in implementing passive membrane technology, a promising novel solution developed by researchers at UBC. This technology is the first of its kind and has not yet been commercially available.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS: This initiative is driven by the community in partnership with innovators, manufacturers, FNHA and ISC. Currently, there is no consulting engineering firm involved. At each iteration, the participants prioritize ideas to pursue that are aligned with community vision in the face of limited resources and time.
The Kleekhoot Reserve of the Hupacasath First Nation lacks a water treatment system. To maximize their investment, the community is exploring cost-effective solutions like UBC’s passive membrane technology. This community-driven effort, supported by FNHA, focuses on simplicity, low maintenance, and ongoing operator training.
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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.
