The AquaHacking Challenge is a technological and entrepreneurial competition aimed at developing innovative solutions to freshwater issues. This Challenge allows young innovators to launch their start-up with a sustainable mandate. It is a pre-incubator and a stepping-stone for future entrepreneurs in the water sector.

AquaHacking Challenge 2021 Western Canada

About the Challenge
Since 2015, the AquaHacking Challenge has been a technological and entrepreneurial program that engages and supports nextGen innovators as they solve freshwater issues in Canada. The Western Canada 2021 AquaHacking Challenge was organized jointly by Aqua Forum and the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) and was the 10th edition of the AquaHacking Challenge. This virtual challenge invited young innovators and problem-solvers from across Canada to put their skills into action creating technological solutions to some of the most critical issues facing watersheds in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.&nbsp;
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The Water Issues&nbsp;
The following four water issues were the focus for this edition of the Challenge. Teams had to choose one of the four proposed issues.
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<td style="width: 47.9218%; height: 118.969px; border-width: 1px;">Optimization of Drinking Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants How can we improve the operations of primary water/wastewater utility infrastructure?</td>
<td style="width: 47.9218%; height: 118.969px; border-width: 1px;">Toxic Algal Blooms How can we improve testing and reduce the incidence of toxic algal blooms?</td>
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<td style="width: 47.9218%; height: 23.7937px; border-width: 1px;">Innovative &lsquo;Social&rsquo; Technologies for Water Information Are there new ways we can link to existing social media and communications technologies to support community access to water information?</td>
<td style="width: 47.9218%; height: 23.7937px; border-width: 1px;">On-Farm Nutrient Capture and Recycling How can we capture and reuse the valuable nutrients from livestock operations and improve the health of nearby rivers, lakes and aquifers?</td>
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The Participant Experience
Over 140 hackers interested in water science, engineering, data analysis, and sustainable development had registered for the Western Canada 2021 AquaHacking Challenge. During Phase 1 lasting five months, 22 teams were established, participants met with their water issue leaders, and they developed their solutions with access to a variety of on-demand workshops and valuable mentorship from water sector experts. Come May, 10 teams made it to the semi-finals.&nbsp;
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5 finalist teams moved forward to Phase 2 where they participated in Water Leadership Training, accessed $2000 in bursaries, received entrepreneurship and pitch training, and refined their solutions. After 9 months of hard work and persistence, teams presented their pitches during the live Finals and walked away with a spot in an incubator!&nbsp;
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The Western Canada 2021 AquaHacking Challenge brought together participants from a variety of professional backgrounds and interests to solve some of the biggest environmental problems in a creative and innovative manner.&nbsp;
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&lsquo;Connecting with the network of Water Issue Leaders&rsquo; and &lsquo;working on a real-world MVP to prepare for scale&rsquo; were some of the participants&rsquo; favourite components of this Challenge.&nbsp;
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To learn more about this challenge, visit <a href="https://aquahacking.com/en/westerncanada2021/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://aquahacking.com/en/westerncanada2021/</a>.
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