Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Researchers from the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia are requesting funds for a much-needed upgrade and refurbishment of their existing wastewater treatment pilot plant. There is a large (and growing) group of researchers working in this area at UBC (mostly in Civil Engineering, as well as in Chemical and Biological Engineering and in Microbiology and Immunology) as environmentally friendly, sustainable, new ""clean/green"" technologies have become a major focus. Since the initiation of pilot scale research at UBC in 1981, a total of over 70 graduate students (1/3 PhD's have been involved in research investigations (directly or indirectly), making use of this unique Canadian facility. The applicants are requesting funding to refurbish and upgrade the UBC Pilot Plant, as many of the existing components are old and tired, or completely non-functional. A refurbished wastewater treatment research facility would allow researchers to maintain and expand their environmental engineering R&D work in areas where pilot scale demonstration studies are required for technology development or commercialization. The applicants have worked together previously on projects involving the UBC Pilot Plant, and will continue to do so, using the Pilot Plant as a common user facility.