Breaking boundaries in water research

Ocean conservation efforts are often guided by ambitious global targets, from protecting 30 per cent of marine and coastal areas to advancing the United Nations Ocean Decade goals. But new thinking co-authored by Water Institute member Derek Armitage and published in The Conversation argues that targets alone are not enough to ensure meaningful progress.

Every year, the Waterloo Wellington Children's Groundwater Festival helps hundreds of elementary school students discover the hidden world of groundwater and the importance of protecting our water resources. This year, members of the Society of the Water Institute Graduate Students (SWIGS) helped bring those lessons to life through a new four-part educational video series created for the festival’s virtual programming.

Urban water stress is no longer a future concern. Water scarcity is already shaping how cities grow and develop. This challenge is not only about how much water is available, but also about where water flows and how long it stays within urban systems. One key player in this urban water cycle is the stormwater pond. Commonly found across cities, these ponds are often seen as simple drainage facilities.  In reality, they play a much larger role. Stormwater ponds store water, redirect flow pathways, and control how long water remains in the system, making them important nodes in urban hydrology.