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A serene view of Okanagan Lake with snowy mountains in the background, reflecting the calm blue sky and scattered clouds at dusk.

AquaHacking Challenge

Western Canada 2021

Between January and September 2021, young innovative minds - from across Canada - were invited to create ground- breaking solutions to critical environmental water issues facing the Western Canada waterways.

WATCH THE FINALE

HOSTED BY

AquaAction logo in color: Water is life. AquaAction's mission is to restore freshwater health in North America.
Logo - The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) is a collaboration of the three Okanagan regional districts to provide leadership on water issues

THE WATER ISSUES TACKLED IN THIS CHALLENGE

  Icon representing on farm captureON-FARM NUTRIENT CAPTURE AND RECYCLING

 Icon representing the Optimization of Drinking Water OPTIMIZATION OF DRINKING WATER / WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS

Icon representing Toxic Algae Blooms   TOXIC ALGAL BLOOMS

Icon representing Innovative Social Technologies   INNOVATIVE ‘SOCIAL’ TECHNOLOGIES FOR WATER INFORMATION

Water issues summary icon   WATER ISSUES SUMMARY

MEET THE FINALISTS

 

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Photo team SIP: Elana Wood, Yamen Shehab, Yosamin Esanullah, and Mana Tokuni

The SIP Project

SIP’s solution is a mobile filtration station in the form of a gravity filter backpack. Water goes into the top of the backpack and filters through three levels of treatment. At the spout, the water is tasteless, clear, and decontaminated.

 

Team:

Elana Wood, Yamen Shehab, Yosamin Esanullah, and Mana Tokuni | UBC Okanagan

 

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Team ELEDIGM: Sydney Strocen, Mikhail Ignatyev, Tarek Alkabbani, and Andre Cox | UBC Okanagan

ELEDIGM

Eledigm’s device prevents contamination in water cisterns. The device connects to a cistern lid and a water hose ensures that the water is protected from contamination during transportation and storage.

 

Team:

Sydney Strocen, Mikhail Ignatyev, Tarek Alkabbani, and Andre Cox | UBC Okanagan

noun-3rd-place-trophy-2347008-FEC93F
Team ECO-Water: Khaled Benis, Shahab Minaei, Mohsen Asadi | University of Saskatchewan

ECO-WATER - Public Choice Award

ECO-Water minimizes the release of chemicals of emerging concern into water bodies. ECO-Model provides a water treatment system with a risk analysis and helps to optimize the system to achieve the highest removal rate possible. ECO-Filters, derived from agricultural residue, remove the remaining pollutants.

 

Team:

Khaled Benis, Shahab Minaeia and Mohsen Asadi | University of Saskatchewan

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

NATIONAL FUNDING PARTNERS

Fondation de Gaspé Beaubien
rbc-foundation
OvivoLogo
lavery_lawyers
mitacs
IBM

LOCAL FUNDING PARTNERS

TECK Logo - Teck is a leading Canadian resource company
Central Okanagan Foundation Logo - we The Central Okanagan Foundation connects people to causes that matter
Logo - The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) is a collaboration of the three Okanagan regional districts to provide leadership on water issues

ACADEMIC PARTNERS

University of Manitoba: We shape learning and discovery, contributing to vital conversations on human rights, global health, and climate change.
Logo - The University of British Columbia is a global centre for teaching, learning and research, ranked among the world top public universities.
USask is one of the top research-intensive universities in areas such as water and food security and infectious diseases.
UBC’s Okanagan campus is an intimate learning community embracing bold new ways of thinking.
University of Waterloo is a leading global research-intensive university for entrepreneurship and innovation.
UCalgary offers students a high-quality educational experience as well as research that addresses society’s most persistent challenges.
Ranked among Canada’s top research-intensive universities, Simon Fraser University is a leader in research, knowledge development and sustainability.
Red River College Polytech: Manitoba’s largest institute of applied learning and research, with over 150 full/part-time degree, diploma & certificate.

PROGRAMMING PARTNERS

Hackworks
waterlution
Logo - Foresight Canada mission is to accelerate adoption of the world’s best clean technologies. Helping the world do more with less, sustainably.
Logo - The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) is a collaboration of the three Okanagan regional districts to provide leadership on water issues
Logo - Purppl accompanies social entrepreneurs and impact leaders to build regenerative enterprises and initiatives that address systemic inequity.