Asset Sustainability

Asset management is maintaining a desired level of service for what you want your assets to provide at the lowest life cycle cost. Lowest life cycle cost refers to best practices and appropriate cost for rehabilitating, repairing or replacing an asset. Asset management is implemented through an asset management program and typically includes a written asset management plan.

The challenges facing water and wastewater infrastructure (including stormwater management systems) include:

Determining the best (or optimal) time to rehabilitate, repair or replace aging assets;
Uncertainties about climate change upon stormwater runoff frequencies, flows and contaminant loadings;
New regulatory requirements;
Responding to emergencies (as a result of asset failures); and,
Protecting assets

Although the watershed protection concept is now accepted, it is essential to translate this interest into rational and logical processes that capture the interest of decision makers and (most important) the public. If asset sustainability in conjunction with watershed management directives are to be effective, it must be implemented with regulatory policies and legislation. But asset sustainability is not all about science for there are many components that are not strictly science based. Organization and structure, funding, public involvement and decision making that transcend political boundaries are essential to develop effective strategies – whether at the watershed or subwatershed level.

GREENLAND^® environmental projects use professional, multi-disciplinary teams. The cost of pre-emptive environmental planning is a small percentage of new development costs. Despite its low cost, it provides invaluable information that can save money during infrastructure design and construction stages. It can also prevent costly remediation and rehabilitation works.

Our team of experts firmly believes that to improve the quality of life, society must first protect what is already healthy. Each project is client driven and ultimately generated by the unique set of circumstances that influence the area that is being considered for development. While tools and methods may change from time to time, our commitment to the needs of our clients is a priority.

Strategic asset management for water and wastewater infrastructure must have regard for “watersheds”, as well as cumulative effects and climate change, since watersheds are exceedingly intricate and inter-dependent complexes of land, water, plants and animals.

The watershed is also now recognized as the priority unit for identifying and managing water supply and wastewater treatment systems. However, this approach to find sustainable asset solutions can place significant pressures on resource agency managers and planners to provide leadership and innovation.

Since incorporation (over 30 years ago), our corporate brand has regard for asset sustainability principles since we combine traditional engineering methods and bio-mimicry principles with 'smart' technologies. We also pioneered a responsible corporate brand with an environmental protection, conservationist ethic and climate adaptation priorities too.

Social Media

Client Testimonials

Muskoka Watershed Council

The Muskoka Watershed Council’s mission is to champion watershed health in those watersheds that flow into and through the District Municipality of Muskoka. There is no conservation authority in Muskoka, instead the Council is a volunteer-based organization supported by the District of Muskoka, local consulting firms, and local Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change offices.

The Muskoka Watershed Council is currently undertaking a project to understand the potential impact of climate change in Muskoka to the year 2050. In working with our municipal partners, decision support tools such as Greenland’s new CANWET-5 model could be useful in informing our watershed management planning decisions in relation to policy development, stewardship priorities and education and communication programs.

Peter Sale
Chair
Muskoka Watershed Council
November 17, 2014

Six Nations Council

On behalf of the Environment Office of the Six Nations of the Grand River, we would like to thank Greenland International Consulting Limited for the work completed to prepare the Master Drainage and Flood Remediation Plan (MDFRP) for the McKenzie Creek watershed. This plan has now enabled our office to identify the flood prone residences throughout the watershed with the flood plain mapping that has been prepared as part of this assignement. We appreciate the role that Greenland has played in assisting our office in directing Public Works with prioritizing the remedial projects to be completed in the flood prone areas.

We also appreciate Greenland's effort in assisting the Six Nations of the Grand River with the preparation of funding applications to secure the resources to complete these remedial works. We are convinced that this MDFRP can be used as a template for completing similar drainage and flood remediation works both locally and in other First Nations lands.

We look forward to working with your company again in the near future on the remaining watersheds that need this important work done.

Thank you for your ongoing assistance.

Clynt King
Environmental Technician
Six Nations Council Environment Office
July 25, 2016

Cortel Group

Greenland and Dr. Goss also played an important role in identifying issues with the initial study proposal.

This led to the Province and Williams Treaty First Nations reaching a resolution based on manageable terms.

With thanks,

Elsa Fancello
Project Manager
Cortel Group (Vaughan, Canada)
November 20, 2024

Corporate Partnerships & Associations