Monica Emelko
Professor, Associate Director
Email: mbemelko@uwaterloo.ca
Location: DWE 2448
Phone: 519-888-4567 x32208
Biography
Monica B. Emelko is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Canada Research Chair in Water Science, Technology & Policy. She is also the Director of the Water Science, Technology & Policy Group. She is also cross-appointed in Biology, Geography & Environmental Management, Systems Design Engineering, and the School of Planning.
Professor Emelko's research interests focus on drinking water supply and treatment, source water protection, microbial risk assessment, public health policy, and stormwater and advanced wastewater treatment. She focuses on sustainable technology development and deployment, integrated resource management, climate change adaptation, and the protection of public health. Professor Emelko’s research is currently funded by many organizations including the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Water Research Foundation, and Alberta Innovates as well as several industry and government partners.
She co-leads the Southern Rockies Watershed Project team, which evaluates the initial effects of natural disturbance by wildfire on hydrology, water quality, and aquatic ecology; and monitors the recovery of these values in front range headwater streams of the high water yielding eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Professor Emelko's team was among the first cited by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for identifying climate change-associated threats from wildfire to drinking water security through water quality and treatability. Her ongoing work involves active participation from over 3 dozen utilities and conservation authorities across Canada and the United States. Professor Emelko has served as a technical advisor to the U.S. National Academies of Engineering, Science, and Medicine as well as several federal and provincial/state agencies in Canada, the United States, and Australia regarding regulatory development related to drinking water treatment, source water protection, public health policy, and integrated resource management.
Professor Emelko's research interests focus on drinking water supply and treatment, source water protection, microbial risk assessment, public health policy, and stormwater and advanced wastewater treatment. She focuses on sustainable technology development and deployment, integrated resource management, climate change adaptation, and the protection of public health. Professor Emelko’s research is currently funded by many organizations including the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Water Research Foundation, and Alberta Innovates as well as several industry and government partners.
She co-leads the Southern Rockies Watershed Project team, which evaluates the initial effects of natural disturbance by wildfire on hydrology, water quality, and aquatic ecology; and monitors the recovery of these values in front range headwater streams of the high water yielding eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Professor Emelko's team was among the first cited by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for identifying climate change-associated threats from wildfire to drinking water security through water quality and treatability. Her ongoing work involves active participation from over 3 dozen utilities and conservation authorities across Canada and the United States. Professor Emelko has served as a technical advisor to the U.S. National Academies of Engineering, Science, and Medicine as well as several federal and provincial/state agencies in Canada, the United States, and Australia regarding regulatory development related to drinking water treatment, source water protection, public health policy, and integrated resource management.
Research Interests
- Water treatment, Wildfire, Water quality, Pathogens, Climate change, Filtration, Land disturbance, Environmental & Water Resources, Water and Land Management, Nanoparticle Removal during Drinking Water and Wastewater Treatment, Quanititative Microbial Risk Assessment, Water Protection, Smart Infrastructure
Education
- 2001, Doctorate Civil Engineering, University of Waterloo, Canada
- 1995, Master's Civil Engineering, UCLA, USA
- 1994, Bachelor's Environmental Engineering Science, MIT, USA
- 1993, Bachelor's Chemical Engineering, MIT, USA
Awards
- 1997 Sir Sandford Fleming Foundation Teaching Assistantship Award, University of Waterloo
- 1997 OWWA/OMWA Annual Conference - Best Presentation Award
- 1999 U.S. NSF Program for the Retention of Engineering Educators (Invited)
- 2002 AWWA Academic Achievement Award (2nd place) for best doctoral dissertation in N. America
- 2004 University of Waterloo, Faculty of Engineering Distinguished Performance Award
- 2006 Ontario Early Researcher Award for Research Excellence
- 2007 Graduate Student Supervision Recognition for AWWA Larson Aquatic Research Scholarship
- 2009 NSERC Discovery Accelerator Supplement grant for Outstanding Research Program
- 2009 Graduate Student Supervision Recognition for American Water Works Association (AWWA)
Teaching*
- CIVE 670 - Physico-Chemical Processes of Water and Wastewater Treatment
- Taught in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- CIVE 770 - Topics in Environmental Engineering
- Taught in 2025
- ENVE 224 - Probability and Statistics
- Taught in 2020
- ENVE 497 - Special Topics in Environmental Engineering
- Taught in 2025
- GEOE 224 - Probability and Statistics
- Taught in 2020
* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.
In The News
Graduate studies
- Currently considering applications from graduate students. A completed online application is required for admission; start the application process now.