YorkU OneWATER and York Region organize workshop to tackle water challenges

York Region and York University’s OneWATER Institute, an interdisciplinary research centre dedicated to furthering research on water-related issues, co-hosted a workshop on May 13 to explore new collaborations and research-backed solutions in the water and wastewater sector.

The event brought together researchers and municipal staff to advance potential research and innovation projects, strengthen direct working relationships, and identify challenges and opportunities for initiatives. The workshop also featured tours of several YorkU labs, offering York Region staff a firsthand look at the university’s water research facilities.

Courtney Cole, Director of Innovation and Partnerships at York University, kicked off the event by highlighting several water-related challenges facing the region today: rapid population growth, climate change, increased weather events, aging infrastructure, and the need for effective policy governance to enhance water resiliency.

“Canada is blessed with tremendous resources, freshwater resources. We have water in abundance. And yet, there are still groups of people who do not have access to clean drinking water,” said Cole in his opening remarks. He emphasized the importance of aligning water allocation policies with social, environmental, and economic priorities to ensure sustainable management.

The event welcomed a wide range of York Region staff, including those in policy, compliance, operations, water quality, asset management, wastewater system optimization, source protection, business planning, research, and public health.

As part of the day’s agenda, York University faculty and students delivered presentations on a range of research topics:

• UV light technologies for water disinfection
• Citizen science initiatives, including the Swan Lake Citizen Science Lab
• The impact of climate change on ice cover, fish habitats, safety, and water quality in the Great Lakes
• Contaminants of concern in water systems
• Emerging technologies with potential applications in the water and wastewater industry

Following presentations, attendees broke out into small working groups to discuss future collaboration opportunities and co-develop ideas that could lead to practical solutions.

York University’s OneWATER Institute continues to support cross-disciplinary engagement through seminars, symposiums, and online activities. “WATER” stands for Water management, Artificial intelligence, Technologies, Education and sustainability, and Resource recovery and reuse—core themes that guide the Institute’s mission to build sustainable water futures.