Traditional (big C) communications in large organizations usually serve to ensure consistent over-arching messaging internally, and to the public at large. To deliver on their public-good mandate, science-based governmental institutions must do more than broadcast the department's position. They must communicate not only broad policy directions, but also raw data, leading-edge science, general and informed layperson interpretations, and advice for action and behaviour change. Different sectors prefer to receive information and use knowledge in different ways. Science departments must engage with diverse audiences-for example, science users and decision makers, the scientific community, public organizations, and individual citizens-in ways tailored for each audience. This means paying greater attention to the changing contexts in which information is received and used, and consequently the mechanisms and relationships required to produce and transfer scientific information. For policy audiences in particular, the relevance of the science to the issues of the day, and the crucial importance of timing, underline the need for interactive knowledge brokering approaches that can deliver synergistic combinations of 'science push' and 'policy pull'. The authors draw on examples from Environment Canada, as well as from the UK Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Land & Water Australia, to show how dedicated (little c) science and technology communications and knowledge brokering activities are growing in importance. The need for investment in specialized approaches, mechaa S&T Branch,

As a country on the whole, Canada enjoys abundant freshwater resources, yet there remain regions with severe discrepancies between supply and demand. One solution to insufficient water supplies that has been gaining in popularity in other areas of the world is that of water reuse. Reuse or recycling of treated wastewater reduces effluent discharges into receiving waters and offers a reliable alternative supply of water for applications that do not require high-quality water, freeing up limited potable water resources. As compared to other countries worldwide, water reuse is currently practised infrequently in Canada. Use of reclaimed water requires a clear definition of the quality of water required, and while water quality criteria typically focus on pathogen risk to human health, chemical contaminants may also limit suitability for some reuse applications. Both health and environmental risk assessments are important steps in designing criteria for reuse projects. Alberta and British Columbia have recently produced guidance documents for water reuse projects; the permitted applications are discussed and the water quality criteria are compared with other standards and guidelines. Various treatment technologies for on-site and central wastewater reclamation facilities are described. Additional considerations for implementation of water reuse projects include project feasibility and planning, infrastructure needs, economics, and public acceptance.

Reclamation and reuse of various types of wastewater, including stormwater, greywater, and domestic wastewater, represents an important component of the urban water cycle helping close the loop between water supply and wastewater disposal. Safe and scientifically-based water and wastewater reuse has been practised for about a century, and a great wealth of practical experience with such practices has been reported in the literature. Essential elements of water reuse plans include the selection of categories of reuse, selection of water quality criteria for such specific reuses (in accordance with the existing regulations and guidelines), design of the treatment train providing the effluent of the required quality, and examination of overall feasibility. In Canada, water reuse is generally conducted on a small-scale or experimental basis. While no national guidelines exist at this time, a number of provinces have developed guidelines for specific water reuse applications. The current stresses on water supply, caused by growing population and increasing water demands, depletion of water sources, reduced supply reliability caused by climate change, ageing infrastructure and limited funding for its expansion, as well as the promotion of environmental sustainability and needs to reduce wastewater discharges to sensitive receiving waters, will contribute to further growth and expansion of water and wastewater reclamation and reuse.

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