Safer Water
and a
Cleaner
Environment
research.carleton.ca
Banu Örmeci, PhD
Carleton University’s
Canada Research
Chair in Wastewater
Treatment Engineering
Banu Örmeci’s
Research Ensures
Safer, Cleaner
Water for
Canadians
Safe, clean drinking water is the most
essential element to human health.
Yet, more than 150 billion litres of
untreated and undertreated wastewater
is dumped annually into Canadian
waterways.
Even beyond the crisis that killed seven
and left some 2,300 people ill from
E. coli contaminated drinking water
in 2000 in Walkerton, Ont., health
problems related to water pollution
cost at least $300 million each year
in Canada. Local governments across
Canada spend approximately $5 billion
per year for collection and treatment of
sewage.
birth-control pills to nanoparticles are
flushed down drains but slip through
conventional sewage treatment. Örmeci
is using new and innovative processes to
effectively remove these contaminants
from wastewater.
In other areas, Örmeci investigates
environmentally friendly and costeffective wastewater treatment
processes using microalgae that grow
naturally while cleaning out nutrients
and contaminants. Microalgae is also
a sustainable source of biofuel and
provides a clean energy source to meet
our energy needs.
“Wastewater treatment must be
managed with precision and good
science or we will end up polluting
our water resources and drinking
water.”
Banu Örmeci develops technology to
clear pathogens and contaminants
from wastewater and sludge, so they do
not pose a threat to public health and
environment. She has two U.S. patents
with another commercialization on its
way by one of the largest multi-national
companies in the wastewater industry.
Örmeci works with industrial partners
and wastewater treatment plants
to improve processes and reduce
operational costs. She partners with
industry to help advance new products
and explore new applications in Canada
and abroad.
Equally important is her mentorship at
every level in Canada and for Canada
including her leadership at the helm
of Women in Science and Engineering
(WISE), and in international
organizations, such as the International
Water Association (IWA)
Increasingly, drugs and endocrine
disrupting compounds can wind up
in drinking water. Chemicals from
What I do
Develop technologies to remove pathogens and
chemical contaminants from wastewater in large
treatment plants and smaller rural systems.
Why it matters
Water quality in Canada is affected by municipal
sewage and industrial waste pollution.
What it will change
Cost-effective and efficient wastewater treatment
protects public health and environment, and
ensures safe drinking water supplies.
THE RESEARCHER
Ontario Early Researcher Award.
Wastewater treatment in rural
regions, where nearly 25 percent of
Canadians live, is another area of study.
Her research has led to simple and
inexpensive methods for wastewater
and sludge treatment, particularly
in Canada’s challenging cold climate
where conventional processes cannot be
applied during the long winters.
Örmeci has a broad focus: effective
removal of emerging pollutants and
preventing pathogens – infectious
microorganisms – from surviving
wastewater treatment.
THE RESEARCH
Outstanding Young Scientist.
Carleton Research Achievement Award,
Teaching Excellence Award and Faculty Graduate
Mentoring Award.
Imperial Oil University Research Award.
Chair, International Water Association Specialist
Group on Sludge Management.
Editorial board member: Journal of Residuals
Science and Technology.
Immediate past-president and board member:
Women in Science and Engineering, Ottawa Chapter.
2013 National Engineering Month: 30 Inspiring
Women Engineers in 30 Days.
Conference co-chair, 2014 WEF/IWA Residuals and
Biosolids Conference.
Conference keynote speaker: 2013 Small
Water and Wastewater Systems Conference,
China, and 2014 European Sludge Management
Conference, Turkey.
International Conference Scientific Committees
in 2013-2014: China, Turkey, Italy, Japan, Thailand,
Vietnam, and the United States.
PARTNERS
Veolia Water, Endetec, John Meunier Inc., Kruger,
RealTech Inc., Aspin Kemp & Associates, ClearPond,
Clearford Industries, Eco Vu Technologies, Seprotech Systems, Canadian Water Network, Walkerton
Clean Water Centre, Ontario Centres of Excellence,
Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada,
municipalities, and treatment plants.
research.carleton.ca
“Banu Örmeci is working with emerging technology and
playing a key role in the water quality of the future.”