Thursday, July 9, 2026
Mehrdad Varedi, recognized for his conservation work with a 2024 Water Canada award, is continuing his efforts to support water resource management through the development of a new monitoring platform, WaterAlert.
Varedi’s work through Waterlix, his company focused on remote sensing and water quality monitoring, centers on bridging the gap between complex environmental data and public accessibility. His latest project approaches lake water quality similarly to how meteorologists approach weather forecasts. By aggregating satellite-based observations and lake-current data, the system provides a screening outlook for algae-related anomalies across 1,332 priority locations, including beaches, water intakes, and discharge zones.
“The idea is to provide insights for lake water quality signals, helping the public compare areas and helping utilities or municipalities better understand potential risks near shorelines,” Varedi says. “The goal is public transparency and early awareness, making conditions easier to see, understand, and discuss before issues escalate.”
While the platform currently operates as a public beta, the project reflects an ongoing evolution in Varedi’s commitment to environmental transparency—transforming the technical expertise that earned him industry acclaim into practical, accessible tools for the Great Lakes community.
Featured image: (WaterAlert)
