Global design firm Stantec recently unveiled the Stantec Institute for Water Technology & Policy, which will explore the real-world impacts of a changing climate on the sustainability of water and the role of emerging technologies in water science and policy. The Institute engages scientists, engineers, and technology specialists across the globe to investigate questions at the forefront of transforming the water industry’s future. Of paramount importance is capitalizing on opportunities that accelerate sustainability and resiliency within the changing global climate, specifically through addressing the nexus of food, water and energy by focusing on decarbonization and circular economic principles.
Many water systems are grappling with aging and deteriorating infrastructure, changing customer bases, regulatory compliance, and climate change — all of which add to the growing costs of providing affordable and equitable water services. Many of the technical problems facing the water industry are solvable through the implementation of suitable policy and emerging technology. However, the pace of research and commercialization is not fast enough in many cases. And because the publicly owned water industry has tended to be risk averse, early adopters of water technology or new approaches often pay a premium to be first.
“A primary mission of the Institute is to identify emerging and leading-edge technologies to help address the water challenges our communities face and bridge the gap between science and practice to de-risk their implementation. The Institute exists to demonstrate that solutions to preserve and protect water quantity and quality in the context of a changing global climate are both technologically available and achievable at any scale,” said Dr. Art Umble, Stantec Senior Vice President, Global Sector Leader for Wastewater Treatment.
The Institute will function as a connector — through work with experts at regional utilities, industrial water users, academic institutions, industry organizations and technology providers — to explore technology-based solutions that reach across the entire hydrologic cycle with outcomes grounded in applied research methods.
The Institute will leverage the firm’s breadth of expertise and strategic partnerships across the areas of water resources, water quantity, water quality, and water conveyance and their intersection with public and environmental policy. At the center of the Institute’s activity is science-based data that will help inform decision makers setting water policy and addressing regulatory issues.
“Our reputation is built on our experience working on some of the world’s largest and most technically challenging projects,” said Dr. Rob Simm, senior vice president, Emergent Sector Leader. “We are in a unique position to help establish these critical connections due to our global reach and, most importantly, the strength and depth of our relationships across the water technology, venture capital, vendor, academic, and industry communities.”
