A collaboration between the University of Saskatchewan and the City of Saskatoon on wastewater monitoring, to advance environmental and human health, is one of 50 international projects named to the 2021 Smart 50 list.

Smart 50 Awards recognize global “smart cities” projects, honouring “the most innovative and influential work.” The local project measured levels of human pharmaceuticals such as antibiotics in Saskatoon’s wastewater to assess potential risks these chemicals might pose to the downstream environment.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, researchers began measuring traces of SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, in Saskatoon’s wastewater.
By gathering this information, the team and its partners have been able to alert authorities to upcoming trends in COVID cases.

The awards are sponsored by Smart Cities Connect, Smart Cities Connect Foundation, and US Ignite. The award will be presented at the Smart 50 Awards gala in Washington, D.C., in October.

Photo: City of Saskatoon wastewater treatment plant manager Mike Sadowski (right), with USask toxicologist Markus Brinkmann (left), holds up a wastewater sampling device in February, 2020. (Credit: David Stobbe)