A team of Waterloo Engineering graduate students, led by Dr. Maricor Arlos from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is tackling the problem of micropollutants in urban water cycles.
The Arlos Research Lab is examining contaminants originating from everyday products — including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and industrial chemicals — and tracking their movements in water, sediment and aquatic life to inform public policy decisions and treatment solutions.
“Given the ubiquity of harmful chemicals in modern life, it is no longer surprising to find them accumulating in bugs and fish,” Arlos says. “The real question is whether they pose any meaningful risk. Answering that has been a central focus of my research, helping water utilities to make more informed and strategic decisions.”
Beyond technical innovation, Arlos emphasizes empathy and social responsibility in engineering. Her teaching and research encourage students to consider equity, feasibility and community needs, including collaborations with Indigenous communities that approach water as both a technical and cultural priority.
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