U of A launches new Water Research Centre

On January 22, the University of Alberta launched its new Water Research Centre (WRC), with EPCOR as a founding partner. The centre — which has been three years in the making — aims to address a broad spectrum of water-related issues, according to Simaan Abourizk, dean of the faculty of engineering.

Some issues that the WRC aims to address include safe drinking water, sustainable water sanitation, flood management, and infrastructure planning, Abourizk added.

The WRC is based in the department of civil and environmental engineering and the school of mining and petroleum engineering. Abourizk said that various other faculties will also be involved in the WRC’s work.

EPCOR makes $1.4 million contribution as a founding partner of the WRC

President and CEO of EPCOR, John Elford, spoke about EPCOR’s long history of providing electricity to Edmonton, starting in 1891. Elford said that throughout that history, EPCOR has had a longstanding relationship with the U of A.

“At EPCOR, we see the innovative research happening here at the university and the difference it makes in addressing critical water-related problems,” Elford said. According to Elford, the WRC will connect regional and global water experts as they prepare for a more sustainable future. 

EPCOR has made a $1.4 million contribution as a founding partner of the WRC. Elford said this contribution demonstrates the importance of this centre.

“We believe that the [WRC] will be a catalyst for bringing together education, industry, and government partners to address key challenges and share best practices that are impacting the industry today and beyond,” Elford said.

Once other partners match EPCOR’s $1.4 million contribution, Abourizk said the centre could receive $7 million to $10 million. According to Abourizk, the investment from EPCOR “spurs a lot of potential action” from other partners. He emphasized the significance of when private companies “step up to the plate” — as when that happens, “a lot of good things happen at the university.”

“Together, these new partnerships will strengthen our ability to address the evolving challenges of water management and create lasting impact for communities worldwide,” Abourizk said. 

“At the [U of A] we work to solve some of society’s greatest challenges, but we know that we can’t do this alone,” Yiu says

Verna Yiu, provost and vice-president (academic), said the centre supports the U of A’s commitment to interdisciplinarity.

“At the [U of A] we work to solve some of society’s greatest challenges, but we know that we can’t do this alone.”

According to Yiu, the WRC contributes to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Times Higher Education (THE) ranked the U of A first in North America and sixth in the world for sustainability impact in 2024. The WRC will help the U of A maintain and advance those rankings, Yiu said.

“This announcement really reflects a shared commitment to shaping a future where sustainable, resilient, and secure water systems ensure the well-being of generations to come,” Yiu said.

Daniel Barry, an fifth-year environmental engineering student, spoke about his experience in the faculty of engineering and working with EPCOR. Barry said his earliest experience with EPCOR was through a river water program when he was in junior high. According to Barry, it was a U of A course on water treatment processes that really sparked his interest.

Barry went on to do a co-op with EPCOR. He said his experience reflected what he had heard from his peers, which was that “EPCOR takes its commitments to students seriously.” Barry said EPCOR’s value in education reappears in its investment in the WRC.

According to Barry, there is no better organization the U of A could receive such a contribution from.

“Although I’m just one voice, I know I’m not alone in benefiting from such thoughtful investments in our community,” Barry said.