The research CWN funds is fundamentally important to expanding knowledge about water issues in Canada. While this research has the capacity to protect our aquatic ecosystems, reduce the cost of replacing infrastructure and improve public health, it will do none of these if it is not put into practice.

Results from research projects need to be communicated to the people in industry, government and non-government organizations who use the findings to bring about change.

Knowledge translation (KT) is the term used by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to describe the process of putting research findings into the hands of practitioners. KT uses research results to inspire people to think and act differently. Translation bridges the gap between the investigators who conduct the research and the implementers in the field who apply it.

KT leverages research so that results lead to better decision-making, commercial application and uptake of new approaches to water management. CWN recognizes the inherent value in existing research knowledge, and as a result had initiated a call for proposals in KT.

In March 2007, CWN had funded four research projects to improve stormwater management, increase understanding related to small water supply systems, improve watershed-level environmental risk assessments, and identify challenges for small water treatment systems.

Our support will assist researchers to create innovative solutions to accelerate the uptake and diffusion of their research results.

Knowledge-translation projects

• Knowledge translation challenges for small water treatment systems, led by Dr. Graham Gagnon
• Knowledge translation workshops for small water systems in Canada, led by Dr. Edward McBean
• Developing a management strategy for cumulative impact assessment for watersheds, led by Dr. Kelly Munkittrick
• Innovative stormwater management, led by Dr. Hans Schreier