News

Taking inspiration from nature, Water Institute researcher Yimin Wu, Professor and Tang Family Chair in New Energy Materials and Sustainability, and his research team have developed a hydrogel that mimics sea cucumbers’ ability to change stiffness to help repair damaged tendons and other soft tissues. The material provides temporary support for new tissue growth, then gradually breaks down and is absorbed by the body.

More than 120 members of the global water community came together on October 1 for an international webinar exploring how organizations can make hydrological data easier to discover, access, share and reuse across different systems and jurisdictions.

The webinar, “Unlocking the Power of Hydrological Data: Empowering People, Enabling Applications, Informing Policy, and Protecting the Environment,” was organized by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in collaboration with the University of Waterloo’s Water Institute, Global Water Futures Observatory, DataStream, the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science (CUAHSI) and government partners.

For many Canadians, turning on a tap or accessing a washroom is an unremarkable part of daily life. Yet water researchers increasingly recognize that access to water is closely tied to dignity, health, and social equity. New research led by Julius Jebuni suggests that, in some parts of the world, the consequences of water insecurity extend even further: into the realm of gender-based violence.

New research shows fluctuating water tables can accelerate contaminant breakdown

Old petroleum spills can continue to contaminate soil and groundwater for decades, making remediation slow, costly and difficult to predict. New research from the Ecohydrology Research Group shows that a natural process, the rise and fall of the water table, can significantly influence how quickly petroleum contaminants breakdown.

The University of Waterloo’s Collaborative Water Program (CWP) has been named a finalist in the Education category of the 2026 Water Canada Awards, recognizing more than a decade of innovation and leadership in interdisciplinary water education.

Professor Monica Emelko, a member of The Water Institute’s Board of Directors, has been recognized with the prestigious Norman J. Howard Award from the Ontario Water Works Association (OWWA) for her outstanding contributions to municipal water supply, research, and the advancement of the water profession.

A virus that infects harmful freshwater cyanobacteria is challenging one of biology’s most fundamental assumptions about the difference between viruses and living cells.

Published in The ISME Journal, new research reveals that the jumbo cyanophage PhiMa05 carries the largest set of ribosomal protein genes ever found in a virus. The discovery is prompting scientists to rethink how viruses evolve and where the line between viral and cellular life truly lies.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development's newly released report, Sustaining Canada's Freshwater for Today and Tomorrow, outlines recommendations to strengthen Canada's freshwater future, informed by testimony from leading researchers and experts across the country.

We’re excited to announce the newly elected executive committee of the Society of the Water Institute Graduate Students (SWIGS) for 2025-26! After a successful election this summer, the SWIGS team is ready to bring fresh energy, creativity, and leadership to the year ahead.

New research from University of Waterloo and Penn State researchers suggests that fertilizer shortages linked to global conflict may be having an unexpected effect on water quality.

The researchers found that in nutrient-rich agricultural systems, farmers may be able to tap into legacy nutrient reserves already stored in the soil, reducing the need for additional fertilizer and decreasing nutrient runoff into rivers, lakes and streams.