CANadian Watershed Evaluation Tool (CANWET™)

CANWET™ is an open data, urban and rural, platform (and developed by GREENLAND® since 2003) for cumulative effects analysis and watershed management. CANWET™ is now “Powered by SWAT” and includes open source GIS-software designed to inform decision making around watershed management; integrated water supply and wastewater treatment infrastructure; urban drainage control; and, climate change adaptation. The platform’s ability to accurately calculate hourly water balance, nutrients, erosion sediment, bacteria, water temperatures, dissolved oxygen and other parameters from GIS data, enables CANWET™ to serve as a powerful decision support system. It also includes science-based climate change impact and mitigative Best Management Practices & Low Impact Development analytics, as well as “automated” modelling data calibration and verification capabilities.


The initial versions were completed with support from the Province of Ontario (Canada) to develop the award-winning “Lake Simcoe Protection Plan”. Further tool updates were then used for similar Assimilative Capacity; Watershed Planning; Master Drainage Planning; Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Planning; and, Source Water Protection projects in Canada.
 
From 2015 - Present, GREENLAND® and the University of Guelph (Canada) were retained by the Government of Canada to undertake an “Evaluation of Policy Options to Achieve Phosphorus and Nutrient Reductions from Canadian Sources to Lake Erie”. The initial project established an extensive list of the most viable policy options. Subsequent evaluations then examined the effectiveness of all policy options on the basis of achieving nutrient load reduction targets; sustainable cost effectiveness; potential impact to the economy; social acceptance; and, efficiency of implementation. Later projects then considered what initiatives were in place and recommended how gaps might be filled. The main objective was to determine what “best suite of policy actions” could achieve the greatest nutrient load reductions, while also being the most effective in terms of cost, time and social acceptance. A unique analytical and stakeholder engagement approach was undertaken using CANWET™ (v.4) and as a means of quantifying and better understanding the origin / timing of phosphorus loads from the Canadian watershed lands draining to Lake Erie.


In 2018, GREENLAND® initiated a 4-year software collaboration with the University of Guelph (Canada). The first project included further developing CANWET™ with Artificial Intelligence (machine learning) features, as well as maintaining current capabilities and adding new / proven-science predictive modelling functions available for the “SWAT” analytical engine. “The system will make this information accessible to everyone from government to urban planners and researchers,” says Professor Prasad Daggupati from the University of Guelph. “Users will be able to see spatially what is happening and take appropriate actions.”  The project will enable regulatory agencies to reduce the harmful effects that algal blooms have on water quality, fish, and wildlife populations in and surrounding the Great Lakes Basin.

Grand River Watershed (Ontario) - Monthly Time Series of Surface Water Runoff (2002-2013):


Grand River Watershed (Lake Erie Basin): Auto-calibrated Surface Runoff Monthly Time Series Output from the CANWET™ / SWAT Internet Platform (NOTE: Results Used to Simulate Lake Erie Basin “Hot Spot – Site Level” Nutrient and Sediment Time Series Loads; Cost Benefit Cost Mitigation Analyses; and, Climate Change Impact Modeling Scenarios)
 


CANWET™ Spatial (HRU Scale) Distribution of Annual Average Phosphorus Forms (Organic, Mineral, Total at the “Site Level”) in a Subwatershed of the Grand River Watershed (Lake Erie Basin – Canada)
 
The latest “Big Data Version” of CANWET™ (developed by GREENLAND® and University of Guelph) has advanced earlier (desktop) versions by utilizing high performance parallel (cloud) computing functionality. The latest update is a fully functional web-based platform with SWAT modelling tools that can allow greater access by decision makers and stakeholders. Therefore, the new version advances the idea of evaluating cumulative effects in the watershed decision making process rather than the current practice of assessing proposed changes in isolation.
 
The CANWETTM evolution (since 2018) has taken advantage of high performance computing by porting existing code to a higher performing language and restructuring to operate using parallel or multi-core processing. Therefore, the platform operates now with “dramatic reductions” in simulation runtimes. The reduced runtimes also facilitated the use of new automatic calibration and verification routines for SWAT model setups – thereby, reducing project labour costs. It can also enable faster analytics for “What-If” watershed simulations and if a re-run is requested through the web-based user interface. In 2021 (and beyond), it is anticipated the CANWET™ (machine learning) web-based platform (“Powered by SWAT) will be used more by decision and policy makers in Canada and to understand better the sources of pollution (and related climate change factors). For example, this includes phosphorus which is a major contributor to Lake Erie eutrophication problems. Therefore, CANWET™ can be used to also develop sustainable policies in supporting a wide variety of watershed planning Best Management Practices and ultimately help achieve the Canadian Government’s commitments to reduce 40% phosphorus entering Lake Erie by 2025.

In January 2020, another CANWET™ public – private partnership involving the City of Waterloo (Canada) was initiated by the GREENLAND® and University of Guelph team. This collaboration will develop an integrated model of surface/groundwater interactions using CANWET™ and with available “MODFLOW” databases. The platform will be used by the project team to investigate sodium chloride (salt) transport affecting the Laurel Creek Watershed. The integrated surface / groundwater platform will also take advantage of in-house high performance computing resources to calibrate and validate the CANWET™ model. This second-to-none platform will enable the Municipality to:
 

  • Identify contributing areas to stormwater management infrastructure (Ponds and LIDs);
  • Estimate seasonal sodium chloride loads associated with rock salt applications to contributing area roads;
  • Estimate infiltrated volumes of stormwater at Ponds and LID facility locations;
  • Estimate infiltrated volumes of stormwater from watercourses and pervious surfaces;
  • Estimate groundwater elevations, flows and directions receiving stormwater infiltration;
  • Conduct a mass balance analysis on sodium chloride and assess its transport and fate;
  • Assess potential for sodium and chloride concentration increases resulting from induced stormwater infiltration practices over time; and,
  • Evaluate cumulative effects from upstream drainage areas on each stormwater facility.


Laurel Creek Drainage Areas within the Region of Waterloo
(Including, Regulated Groundwater Well Head Protection Areas)
 
“What-If” scenario analyses will also be undertaken using CANWET™ to compare the outcomes of multiple policy options. The options will include (but not be limited to):
 
  • Selecting between stormwater conveyance options that either enhance or avoid infiltration in specific geographic areas. Infiltration might be used in headwater areas with lower urban density or where alternatives to spring - winter period rock salts are applied;
  • Directing future urban growth away from sensitive drinking water recharge areas that sustain groundwater sources (and via regulated groundwater wellhead protection areas);
  • Identifying areas that should only receive road sanding or other alternatives to rock salt (during spring –winter periods) due to elevated risks; and,
  • Identifying facilities that should be prioritized for retrofit to prevent infiltration losses.
 
The resulting CANWET™ (“Powered by SWAT and MODFLOW”) platform will allow the City of Waterloo (and neighbouring municipalities) to make better informed decisions that impact the protection of vulnerable source water in the Waterloo Region. The new tool will also have added benefits in assisting with the management of other water quality and water balance issues too.



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Client Testimonials

Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation

The Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation (ICCA) is a national applied research centre that focuses on mobilizing practical and cost-effective solutions to address climate change and extreme weather events. To this end, the ICCA is an incubator of new adaptation ideas, conducting research, knowledge mobilization and promoting initiatives aimed at de-risking the negative impacts of a changing climate and extreme weather. One of ICCA’s concerns is a growing uninsurable housing market in Canada relative to sewer backup.
 
ICCA believes the advanced technology and features of the SafeSump system can be instrumental to mitigating basement flood potential.  I have one of the first prototypes of the SafeSump system installed in my home. I have interacted directly with the start-up founder. I view him as entrepreneurial and passionate, and have met other members of his team with whom I was similarly impressed.  I am also familiar with Greenland Consulting Engineers, and congratulate SafeSump Inc. on their choice to create a joint “SafeSump” venture with Greenland.
 
ICCA looks forward to a supportive relationship with SafeSump Inc. upon the larger scale availability of their much-needed technology.

Dr. Blair Feltmate
Head, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation
Faculty of Environment
University of Waterloo

October 6, 2016
 

Township of Essa

RE: Township of Essa Engineering Services
 
On behalf of the Township of Essa (Township), I would like to acknowledge Greenland for its exemplary services to complete the 2022 Community of Angus Infrastructure Master Plan (IMP) Class Environmental Assessment (EA). This legacy Township document developed municipal water and wastewater system models. These calibrated tools were then used by Greenland to develop a sustainable infrastructure planning framework for water and wastewater servicing expansion requirements within the Community of Angus. The project was completed “on-budget and on-time” and cognizant of environmental, technical and socio-economic constraints and opportunities affecting the Township of Essa.

We also appreciate your team’s expertise to provide subsequent model-keeper and development peer review support services. These important responsibilities and overseen by Township staff will help ensure new development approvals proceed in a manner which is consistent with the infrastructure management and expansion needs established by the completed IMP EA project.

Finally, we recognize the professional credentials and attention to detail involvement by your assigned team led by Mr. Josh Maitland, P. Eng.

We look forward to working with Greenland on other projects and serving as a professional reference.
 
Michael Mikael, P.Eng
Manager of Public Works/Deputy CAO
Township of Essa
October 18, 2023
 

Municipality of Meaford

Re: Reference Letter

The municipality of Meaford has worked very closely with Greenland International Consulting Ltd. on a number of projects over the past few years. Some of these projects include the development of a master plan for property along the Bighead River in Meaford as well as the development of accessibility ramp in the urban core. Their visioning and attention to detail is some of the best I have ever worked with. Their willingness to communicate with staff and implement comments through public cosultation sessions makes the entire process flawless. I would highly recommend the services of Greenland International Consulting for any future planning projects. 

Rod Willis
Manager, Parks and Facilities Services 
Municipality of Meaford

November 13, 2020
 

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