ArcelorMittal Dofasco makes water treatment fun at the Hamilton Children's Water Festival — while teaching about the importance of water conservation and treatment.

Dofasco has a long history as a responsible user of air, land and water. In 1972, Dofasco became Canada’s first steel producer to implement a water treatment facility for its wastewater. Even earlier, in 1955, the company started to use settling basins to remove solids from water being discharged back into Hamilton Bay. 

The company has also sponsored and participated in the Hamilton Children’s Water Festival since its inception in 2008. We were back at the festival at Pier 4 Park May 30 to June 1 as Platinum Level Sponsor in partnership with the City of Hamilton.

The Hamilton Children’s Water Festival educates Grade 4 students about the importance of water conservation, protection, awareness, respect, science technology, history and health. The students rotate between more than 20 stations with interactive sessions related to water. 

Jason Elford (Senior Analyst, Data Analytics)

“As a responsible user of water, we have to return the water better than it was before. This is a great activity to show kids all the ways we need to consider the water we use; and that as a company, we are not hurting any ecosystems."

ArcelorMittal Dofasco runs the Filtration Station, where children work with a Dofasco volunteer to test a filter (made of rocks, pebbles and sand in a plastic cup) with water that is filled with dirt, glitter and macaroni. The aim of the activity is to help students understand how wastewater is treated using filtration systems and the value of Dofasco’s wastewater treatment process and its positive impacts on Hamilton Harbour.  

“As a responsible user of water, we have to return the water better than it was before,” says Jason Elford (Senior Analyst, Data Analytics), who volunteered at the festival. “This is a great activity to show kids all the ways we need to consider the water we use; and that as a company, we are not hurting any ecosystems.

"The kids have been really engaged. It is interesting to see how important it is to them that we are taking care of the environment. It is good to see they have that education.” 

During a session on May 31, kids were shown a black, dirty water sample from Steelmaking and then a sample after it has gone through Dofasco’s treatment plant, which is clear and clean. During a session with St. Ann Catholic Elementary School, students hypothesized what items would make it through the filter and how to make the water even cleaner after one trip through the filter.  

"ArcelorMittal Dofasco operates based on 10 Sustainable Development Outcomes. Our SD Outcome No. 5 is to be a trusted user of water," says Richard Do Couto (Senior Specialist, Corporate Responsibility). "That is why this event is so great. It’s an opportunity for us to demonstrate how we are reducing our environmental impacts, and working in collaboration with partners and the local community to enhance the natural resources we all rely on.

"The festival prepares students to act as environmental stewards in their community while contributing to the air and water component of the science curriculum in a memorable way."