News

Water Institute member William Taylor, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, from the Department of Biology, shares his expertise in a Waterloo Region Record article.

Read the full article by Leah Gerber in the Waterloo Region Record.

A new, battery-free sensor can detect water leaks in buildings at a fraction of the cost of existing systems.

The tiny device, developed by researchers at the University of Waterloo, uses nanotechnology to power itself and send an alert to smartphones when exposed to moisture.

By eliminating a battery and related circuitry, researchers estimate their sensor could be commercially produced for $1 each, about a tenth of the cost of current leak detection devices on the market.

Elizabeth English, Water Institute member and professor in the School of Architecture, shared her personal experiences while speaking at a recent TEDxManhattanBeach conference about how amphibious housing can allow communities in flood zones to thrive.

The presence of artificial sweeteners has revealed that at least 13 percent of septic system wastewater from rural Southern Ontario homes eventually makes its way into local streams.

In a recent study, researchers at the University of Waterloo used the presence of artificial sweeteners excreted from humans to identify the wastewater content in streams across rural Southern Ontario.

The Ecohydrology Research Group hosted a successful 8th Annual World Wetlands Day Research Symposium at the University of Waterloo on Monday, February 3. It was part of more than 1,200 events held worldwide to spread the important message that wetland biodiversity matters.

The start of a new decade is inspiring and at the Water institute we welcome the opportunities ahead. Joining us for the challenge are some amazing new members. A sincere welcome and we look forward to collaborating!

Cape Town, South Africa - Pixabay

Trekking the ends of the Earth to set a timetable for our climate emergency

For eight days straight, Water Institute member and researcher Christine Dow and her team dragged a sled-mounted radar system roughly 85 kilometres across the frozen Antarctic. The hard-earned data they collected has Dow convinced the Antarctic Ice Sheet is destabilizing faster than anyone thought.