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Charles Birchall will be speaking at the 41st Aquatic Toxicity Workshop in Ottawa, September 30, 2014.  Chuck will be speaking on "Moving Beyond Toxicity and Use Protection in Water Quality Management".

Aquatic toxicologists have developed techniques to assess the toxicity of pollutants to aquatic life. Most jurisdictions set water quality objectives for the protection of specific water uses. More recently, water management frameworks, especially those in Northern Canada and land claims agreements, have enshrined the right to waters that are "substantially unaltered" in quality and quantity, and can require compensation if waters are substantially altered. However, water quality is not addressed in its own right. The need to address water quality in its own right, and the definition of "substantial alteration" incorporate technical and philosophical challenges in moving beyond “use protection” in water quality management.

The Aquatic Toxicity Workshop is Canada’s major annual meeting for aquatic toxicology and related disciplines, to share information on current and emerging topics  related to water and sediment quality.

The program is being held from September 28 to October 1, 2014. To learn more about this program and to register, please visit the ATW's website.