Research builds our urban community
This article was originally written and submitted as part of a Canada 150 Project, the Innovation Storybook, to crowdsource stories of Canadian innovation with partners across Canada. The content has since been migrated to Ingenium’s Channel, a digital hub featuring curated content related to science, technology and innovation.
Oct 25, 2016
Media
The University of Calgary teams up with its home city to improve wastewater treatment methods.
When we turn on the tap or flush the toilet, we don’t usually give much thought to where the water comes from or where it’s going. But municipal wastewater treatment can be extremely expensive, and the higher the level of treatment, the cleaner the effluent and the smaller the impact on the environment. Even so, Calgary treats its wastewater three times — more than many Canadian cities — before returning it to the Bow River.
Read more of Research builds my urban community.
Find more stories of research in action on Innovation.ca, the website of the Canada Foundation for Innovation.
Transcript
When we turn on the tap or flush the toilet, we don’t usually give much thought to where the water comes from or where it’s going. But municipal wastewater treatment can be extremely expensive, and the higher the level of treatment, the cleaner the effluent and the smaller the impact on the environment. Even so, Calgary treats its wastewater three times —more than many Canadian cities— before returning it to the Bow River. The Bow is the city’s primary source of drinking water, which also feeds into the water sources of several communities downstream. To further its commitment to clean water for Albertan communities, the city is partnering with the University of Calgary on a unique research program called Advancing Canadian Wastewater Assets that will help improve existing wastewater treatment methods and alleviate some of the financial burden on Canadian municipalities.
Canada Foundation for Innovation
The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) was built on the ideals of thinking big and investing in areas that matter to Canadians. Since its creation in 1997, the CFI has ensured Canadian researchers have the tools — the cutting-edge labs, facilities and equipment — they need to push the frontiers of knowledge in all disciplines, and to contribute to the full spectrum of research — from discovery to technology development.
