Collaborative Water Program students shine on the international stage at WEFTEC design competition

A team of Waterloo students, including two from the Water Institute’s Collaborative Water Program, earned international recognition this fall as they represented Waterloo at the Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC). The students won second place in WEFTEC’s Student Design Competition, part of North America’s largest annual gathering for water-quality professionals and a major international showcase for wastewater technology and design.

The multidisciplinary team included Joseph Wortman, Rosa Maria Castillo, Jinxuan (Jacqueline) Zhang, and Maryory Ocana. The team first won the provincial competition as representatives of the Water Environment Association of Ontario, with early contributions from teammate Sarah Rezaei, who could not attend WEFTEC.

Their presentation, entitled Next-Gen WWTF: Turning Barrie’s Waste into Energy and Nutrients, explored how to manage rapid population growth and prepare its wastewater treatment facility for future demands. With the population expected to double by 2051, the plant will face higher flows and increased solids, pushing digester capacity limits by 2032. The team proposed targeted, in-place upgrades to improve treatment performance, reduce biosolids, and recover energy and nutrients, advancing Barrie’s shift toward a more efficient, circular water system.

For Joseph, the most memorable moment came when the team stepped onto the international competition stage. “That was when we really got to show what Waterloo taught us,” he said.

“When we got into the flow of the presentation and saw how all of our preparation came to fruition in a great presentation, it made me feel proud that we were doing a good job of representing Waterloo.”

He added that systems thinking and data visualization skills learned through the Collaborative Water Program’s WATER 601 course helped the team evaluate the challenge holistically, define system boundaries, and communicate their design effectively.

Rosa said presenting as a multicultural team was especially meaningful. “As an international student, the most rewarding part was representing the University of Waterloo as a multicultural team at WEFTEC,” she said. “With team members from Canada, Panama and China, we brought different backgrounds and experiences, and that diversity strengthened our collaboration and the overall project.”

Their design focused on improving anaerobic digester performance by incorporating organic waste from Barrie to increase biogas production and reduce the need for flaring. The team also proposed nutrient recovery technologies to extract phosphorus and nitrogen as slow-release fertilizers such as struvite and brushite. “What made our approach stand out was turning waste into value,” Rosa said. “We evaluated multiple integrated alternatives that respected cost, energy use, footprint, operations and community impact.”

Alongside technical learning, the students highlighted the importance of communication, teamwork, and scope management. “Ask your group members questions so you can learn from them to see the bigger picture,” Joseph said. “The design project requires unique communication skills, and learning how to communicate effectively in this environment will be crucial to my career growth in the future.”

Rosa noted that the experience helped her strengthen her communication, stakeholder coordination, delivery, and prioritization abilities. “I became more detail-oriented while keeping the big picture in mind,” she said. “Understanding my teammates’ strengths helped me delegate tasks and manage time more effectively.”

When asked what advice they would offer future competitors, both emphasized confidence and curiosity. “Don't be afraid to take on something big and learn something new,” Joseph said. “Your engineering background gave you the building blocks to learn other processes. Water is the most critical resource on this planet, and this project is a stepping stone to a meaningful career solving the most critical issues on this planet.”

Don't be afraid to take on something big and learn something new

Rosa agreed. “That little voice that says this is too difficult can stop you before you start. Take the first step and keep showing up. For anyone in water, this is a great opportunity to see what your future career could look like. It is a win-win experience.”

Photo L to R: Maryory Ocana, Joseph Wortman, Rosa Maria Castillo, Jinxuan (Jacqueline) Zhang.