Project Ideas: Water

The University of Waterloo is a large campus that uses heavy quantities of water. Water from the region of Waterloo tends to have high amounts of salt. How can we tackle the issue of producing over 125 tons of salt each year to decrease by-product?

Road salt can be harmful to the environment through runoff and groundwater infiltration. In the winter, after salt is applied on the roads, where does it go? Are there ways snow management can be done that reduces both the amount of salt needed and the amount that enters streams and groundwater? This project explores how salt mixes with snow and where it goes.

Canadians have some of the highest personal water footprints in the world. At the University of Waterloo, water is heated using natural gas and therefore contributes to our total operational emissions. Since students are the main users of campus showers, how can we promote the importance of reducing shower duration among the student population?