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Success Story: Removing Boil Water Advisory Through Collaboration and Compliance

Introduction

In the world of water management, Clearford, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) and the Owner of a community in Thunder Bay, effectively steered through the complexities of regulatory compliance. This concerted effort resulted in the removal of a longstanding Boil Water Advisory (BWA) that had been enforced since June 25, 2021, guaranteeing the safety of drinking water for the residents.

Innovative Solutions

1. Transition Management

Following the previous owner’s failure to comply with a Provincial Officer’s Orders dating back to 2018 and a boil water advisory issued on June 25, 2021, the community was brought under new ownership in April of 2022.

Clearford assumed operations of the water system on April 26, 2022, fully committed to collaborating with the new owner to rectify the issues and ensure sustainability for the community’s water quality.

The approach was hands-on right from the start. Ensuring a smooth handover was key in quickly addressing the critical issues and showcased Clearford’s adaptability and practical problem-solving skills.

2. Legal Compliance Strategy (April 28, 2022)

Although the Ministry determined that a purchaser is a successor and, therefore, the new owner is bound by the orders, Clearford actively supported the new owner in navigating the regulatory landscape and explored methods to lift the BWA.

Rolling up their sleeves, Clearford seamlessly integrated compliance strategies into the community’s roadmap to safe drinking water.

3. Collaboration and Comprehensive Road Map (May 18, 2022 – May 27, 2022)

Clearford’s Account Manager and Compliance Manager worked with its Engineering and Operations departments, initiating consultations with the new owner on actions required to address the MECP’s concerns.

On May 27, 2022, a comprehensive roadmap to remove the BWA was presented to the MECP, outlining the necessary steps to satisfy the Provincial Officer’s Orders, Directors Order, and the Inspection Report from November 2021.

4. Proactive Project Management (May 18, 2022 to January 31, 2023)

The start of an intensive nine-month collaboration marked a period during which Clearford’s dedicated team worked diligently to meet deadlines, assess, implement upgrades, and communicate transparently with all stakeholders. This effort ensured that  the treatment equipment upgrades were completed by January 31, 2023 and  overall, the project was managed effectively.

5. Thorough Documentation Process (March 2 to March 16, 2023)

In the final stages, all supporting documentation was successfully completed, demonstrating full compliance and showcasing both Clearford’s and the Owner’s commitment to long-term sustainability.

  1. March 2, 2023: Engineering Evaluation Report completed with declaration
  2. March 15, 2023: Draft O&M Manual completed
  3. March 16, 2023: Final documentation letter submitted to MECP confirming compliance with all outlined actions in the inspection report

6. Boil Water Advisory Rescinded (March 20, 2023)

This thorough and transparent approach paved the way for the ultimate success – the rescinding of the Boil Water Advisory on March 20, 2023.

Conclusion

Clearford’s teams didn’t operate in silos; they worked together with the client, fostering a client-focused approach that was practical and relatable. Progress was communicated transparently, concerns were tackled head-on, and stakeholders were kept informed in a straightforward manner.

The rescinding of the Boil Water Advisory marks a return to normalcy for the community and underscores Clearford’s commitment as a trusted partner in providing safe drinking water to the communities it serves. In line with its mission, Clearford assumes the risk and liability for delivering safe and reliable water and wastewater treatment services. This mission-driven approach reflects a dedication to providing cost-effective water services, showcasing Clearford’s positive impact on the communities it serves.

About Clearford Water Systems Inc.
Clearford Water Systems Inc. is a provider of unified water management solutions for the design, build, finance, operation and maintenance of water and wastewater infrastructure systems. The Company’s technology-based water solutions include Clearford One® wastewater infrastructure systems, Clearford M-brane™ packaged treatment solutions, and a full range of UV Pure® water disinfection products. Clearford is the winner of the Frost & Sullivan 2017 Enabling Technology Leadership Award for Global Decentralized Water & Wastewater Treatment. For more information on Clearford Water Systems, please visit www.clearford.com.

Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking statements as they relate to the Company and its management. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but represent management’s current expectation of future events, and can be identified by words such as “believe”, “expects”, “will”, “intends”, “plans”, “projects”, “anticipates”, “estimates”, “continues” and similar expressions. Although management believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be correct.

By their nature, forward-looking statements include assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual future results, conditions, actions or events to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. If and when forward-looking statements are set out in this news release, Clearford will also set out the material risk factors or assumptions used to develop the forward-looking statements. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements. The future outcomes that relate to forward-looking statements may be influenced by many factors, including, but not limited to: industry cyclicality; the ability to secure third party agreements; successful integration of Clearford’s system with third party technology; competition; reduction in demand for products; collection from customers; relationships with suppliers; product liability; intellectual property; reliance on key personnel; environmental; interest rates; uninsured and underinsured losses; operating hazards; risks of future legal proceedings; income tax matters; credit facilities; availability and terms of financing; distribution of securities; restrictions on potential growth; effect of market interest rates on price of securities; and potential dilution.

For more information contact:
Kevin Loiselle, President & CEO
Clearford Water Systems Inc.
Phone: 613 599 6474 ext. 303
www.clearford.com

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