Potable Water Dispensing Unit Project

About the Project

Continuing on with Newfoundland and Labrador Sustainable Drinking Water Systems research program launched in 2013 (see http://nlwater.ruralresilience.ca), Dr. Kelly Vodden and Dr. Sarah Minnes are working in partnership with Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL) and NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC) in leading a research team looking at communities who use potable water dispensing units (PWDUs). They are undertaking research to understand the types of experiences rural and remote communities with insecure access to water are having during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, they are investigating the experiences of communities with PWDUs and any challenges these communities may be having in regards to following sanitization guidelines and standard operating procedures during the COVID-19 emergency.  In addition, the project seeks to identify the safe operating procedures and measures that these communities and others with PWDUs have taken, and to share these experiences with other rural municipalities.

Research Team

• Kelly Vodden, Memorial University
• Sarah Minnes, University of Guelph
• Robin Pianosi, Memorial University
• Rumbidzai Kanyangarara, Memorial University
• Municipalities of Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL)
  • Deatra Walsh
  • Kathleen Parewick
• NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC)
  • Amy Hudson
  • Bryn Wood
  • Aimee Battcock
• Nadia Sarwar, Memorial University
• Michael Asamoah-Boaheng, Memorial University
• Sondra Eger, Memorial University
• Laura Stern, Memorial University
• Nunatsiavut
  • Elizabeth Tuglavina
  • Kayla Wyatt

Resources

Publications

• Yankey, I. (2022). Improving Water Infrastructure: What are the imperatives for water infrastructure in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities? Water Canada January/February Issue: 31-32.
  • Water Canada Feature
• Eger, S., S. Minnes, K. Vodden, A.Hudson, K. Parewick, & D. Walsh. (2021). COVID-19 and drinking water security in rural, remote communities and Indigenous communities: The role of collaboration among diverse actors in responding to a global pandemic. The Journal of Rural and Community Development, 16(4), 112–140.

Reports

• Reid, B., A. Hudson, S. Eger, and I.J. White. (2021). State of Rural Canada 2021: Opportunities, Recovery, & Resiliency in Changing Times: Newfoundland and Labrador. Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation: 101-110.
• Minnes, S., K. Vodden, D. Walsh, K. Parewick, M. Asamoah-Boaheng, and A. Hudson. (2020). Challenges with rural drinking water infrastructure operations and maintenance in rural Newfoundland and Labrador during COVID-19. The Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation Rural Insights Series: 12pp.
  • CRRF Rural Insights Series on COVID-19

Presentations

• Stern, L. (2022, February). Exploring water insecurity in rural areas during the pandemic: Experiences with potable water dispensing units in Newfoundland and Labrador. Presented at Grenfell Campus for International Day of Women in Science.
• Eger, S., and S. Minnes. (2021, May). NL Sustainable Drinking Water Research for Rural, Remote, and Indigenous Communities. Presented at MNL Symposium & AGM, St Johns, NL.
• Walsh, D., and A. Hudson. (2020, October). Rural Drinking Water. Presented at the CRRF Virtual Conference on Supporting Rural Recovery & Resilience.

Blog 

• Making Communities Water Resilient: Improving Water Infrastructure in Newfoundland and Labrador

Podcasts

• Impacts of COVID19 on rural and indigenous communities with Dr. Sarah Minnes. Munipal World Shares Podcast: Municipal Pandemic Response.

Upcoming Project Outputs

• Project report (anticipated summer 2022).
• Coastal Connections podcast episode (anticipated fall 2022)
• Workshops within the participating communities (anticipated 2023).