Carleton University’s Banu Örmeci, Canada Research Chair in Wastewater Treatment Engineering and associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering was the keynote speaker at the 11th International Wastewater Association (IWA) Conference on Small Water and Wastewater Systems and Sludge Management in Harbin, China. The conference hosted international scientists from 32 countries.
Örmeci’s presentation shared her research on the importance and the need for small wastewater and sludge treatment systems and the challenges cold and remote regions face in the design and operation of these systems.
“A large percentage of population, both in Canada and globally, rely on small water and wastewater treatment systems for treatment of their drinking water and wastewater,” said Örmeci. “Design and operation of these small systems present many challenges and, if not done right, they pose a serious threat to public health and environment. In fact, the majority of the waterborne outbreaks, including the Kaschechawan outbreak in Ontario in 2005, can be traced back to problems with the small treatment systems.”
About Banu Örmeci
Örmeci was named a Canada Research Chair in 2007. She is the recipient of several awards including the Ontario Early Researcher Award, Carleton University Research Achievement Award, Carty Research Fellowship and Carleton University Students’ Association Teaching Excellence Award. Her main research areas include sludge treatment and disposal, water and wastewater disinfection, removal of endocrine disrupting compounds and pharmaceuticals from wastewater, and fate and persistence of chemicals and pathogens through treatment processes. As well as fundamental research, she is interested in research that has practical applications in the field and is engaged in research project partnerships with the public and private sectors. She has two patents.
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