We are making impacts
Tech transfer
Our innovation has catalyzed the creation of a University of Regina spin-off, EcoLoop Sustainable Technologies Limited, with investments from Innovation Saskatchewan, Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation (BPWTC), the Regina Airport Authority (RAA), and the University of Regina.
Regina water expert pioneers sustainable solution to transform sludge into multi-use ceramsite
When Dr. Jinkai Xue, principal investigator at the University of Regina’s Cold-Region Water Resource Recovery Laboratory, and an associate professor in the Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science, learned that the nearby Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant was spending upwards of $1 million annually to transport and landfill water treatment residual stored in on-site lagoons, he set up a meeting with plant management to explore innovative reuse solutions that not only promised substantial cost savings but could significantly diminish the plant’s environmental footprint.
Mainstream Media Coverage
Innovation should not be kept in the ivory tower. Our research has drawn broad attention from society and made real impacts. CBC, Global News, and Regina Leader Post have reported on our innovation.
Transforming sludge
Dr. Jinkai Xue's lab, the Cold-Region Water Resource Recovery Laboratory (CRWRRL), and this project are supported by the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Mitacs, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan).
Going with the Flow
Microplastics and other pollutants can enter our ecosystems via wastewater from your household sinks. To combat climate change and protect our ecosystems and health, consider what you do and do not flush or wash down the drain. Things you should not send down the drain include things you can throw away (e.g., plastics, hygiene products), take to a collection centre (e.g., fats, oils and greases or household hazardous wastes), or return to the pharmacy (medications). Preventing pollutants from washing down drains means less can enter the environment and less energy is needed to remove them from our water. The less energy we use, the fewer greenhouse gases enter our atmosphere, and the closer we are to combatting climate change!