The University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a university that is part of the pulse of the water sector. Here we bring together everything it publishes on Smart Water Magazine: its news, its blogs and the events it takes part in.
Engineers develop all-in-one solution to catch and destroy “forever chemicals”
Chemical engineers from UBC’s Faculty of Applied Science have developed a new treatment that traps and treats PFAS substances—widely known as “forever chemicals”—in a single, integrated system. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in manufacturing consumer goods like waterproof clothing due to their resistance to heat, water and stains. However, they are also pollutants, […]
Researchers call for return of Sumas Lake following devastating 2021 floods
A new proposal has emerged in response to the November 2021 floods that swept Sumas Prairie in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia, causing mass evacuations and millions in damages. Instead of rebuilding the dykes to manage water flows and prevent future floods, scientists at UBC, along with members of the Sumas First Nation and other […]
Clearcut logging leads to more frequent flooding, including extreme floods
Study also shows that larger, intact watersheds reduce flood risk more effectively.
Researchers recover vital resources from wastewater sludge
New technique can extract and recycle phosphorous from municipal waste.
Rain gardens could reduce the amount of a toxic chemical associated with tires entering waterways
Specially designed gardens could reduce the amount of a toxic chemical associated with tires entering our waterways by more than 90 per cent, new research shows. The chemical 6PPD-quinone can form when car tires interact with the atmosphere. It enters rivers and streams when rain runs off roads into waterways. It is toxic to coho salmon, rainbow […]
New UBC water treatment zaps ‘forever chemicals’ for good
Engineers at the University of British Columbia have developed a new water treatment that removes “forever chemicals” from drinking water safely, efficiently – and for good. “Think Brita filter, but a thousand times better,” says UBC chemical and biological engineering professor Dr. Madjid Mohseni, who developed the technology. Forever chemicals, formally known as PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl […]
Arctic river channels changing due to climate change, scientists discover
UBCO researcher tracks the migration pace of large rivers in permafrost regions.
Engineers examine safe drinking water management strategies
While residents in California are still dealing with damage from last month's floods—after years of devastating droughts—UBC Okanagan engineers are looking at better ways to manage the delivery of safe drinking water to homes. Their research was conducted in the School of Engineering's Life Cycle Management Lab in collaboration with Universite Laval. It was published […]
Toxic toilet paper and long-lasting chemicals found in endangered killer whales
A chemical used in the production of toilet paper and ‘forever chemicals’ have been found in the bodies of orcas in B.C., including the endangered southern resident killer whales. The Institute for the Ocean and Fisheries (IOF) at UBC, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Food, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada scientists analyzed tissue samples […]