Features Contamination Water Issues
AI-EES invests in 18 water research projects

May 2, 2013, Edmonton – Alberta Innovates – Energy and Environment
Solutions (AI-EES) has selected 18 research projects in support of safe,
secure drinking water, healthy aquatic ecosystems, and reliable, quality
water supplies for a sustainable economy.

May 2, 2013, Edmonton – Alberta Innovates – Energy and Environment Solutions (AI-EES) has selected 18 research projects in support of safe,
secure drinking water, healthy aquatic ecosystems, and reliable, quality
water supplies for a sustainable economy.

The projects selected for the Water Resource Sustainability
Program will receive up to $1.5 million each, to a total investment of $10 million, in
support of the Government of Alberta's Water for Lif strategy.

"With a growing population and expanding economy, it is
critical that Alberta has accurate, reliable and useful information and a
suite of practical approaches for managing our water resources," said
Eddy Isaacs, CEO of AI-EES. "These projects will provide the crucial
information we need to support an actionable strategy for safe, secure
and sustainable water for Albertans."

The 18 research projects range from understanding perceptions
about water quality in rural Alberta to collaboration between local and
international researchers who will work together to develop a
monitoring scheme for arsenic in rural Alberta's well water to
validating reclamation targets, design criteria and policy for
sustainable wetland habitat.

Projects were considered based on the focus areas of:

• Water security, risk and vulnerability
• Watershed stewardship and ecosystem management
• Increased conservation, efficiency and productivity of surface water and ground water use.

Applicants for the program included researchers from academic
institutions, non-profit research establishments, private industry, and
provincial and federal research centres. Applicable research programs
required a strong Alberta connection, with preference given to those
projects led by an Albertan researcher.