Student Design Competition

Since 2013, the BC Water & Waste Association (BCWWA) has hosted an annual design competition for postsecondary students in British Columbia. This competition aims to help students apply their academic skills to solve real-world water and wastewater problems we face every day, develop leadership and communication skills and innovate the water sector.

The winning teams from BC have gone on to compete internationally at the Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) against teams from across Canada, the United States and the world.

  • We are proud to see our teams consistently excel in the WEFTEC Student Design Competition, with eleven top-three finishes since BCWWA first entered the international competition.

2026 – 2027 Competition

Eligibility

To be eligible to participate in the BCWWA Student Design Competition, each team member must be:

  • A registered student (full‐time or part‐time) at a college or university in British Columbia.
  • Senior students (3rd, 4th level and graduate) in the environmental, civil, chemical engineering or related fields.

Why participate in the competition?

  • Meet new people and build a network of water professionals and potential employers to help kickstart your career;
  • Enhance your design, presentation and communication skills;
  • Expand your water and wastewater sector knowledge and approach real-world challenges; and
  • Receive a complimentary one-year BCWWA student membership.

Contact

For more information about the Student Design Competition, contact our team at

Key Dates

Application deadline
TBD

Sponsorship deadline
February 26, 2027

BCWWA 2027 Annual Conference & Trade Show in Victoria, BC

April 18 – 20, 2027

WEFTEC 2027 in Chicago, Illinois
September 25 – 29, 2027

Important Documents

2026-27 BCWWA Student Design Competition Guidelines & Job Description coming soon…

Sponsorship Opportunities

By sponsoring the SDC, your organization will play a vital role in shaping the future of the water industry. Your support empowers the next generation of professionals by providing approximately 40 post-secondary students with an exceptional mentorship and professional development experience.

Sponsorship ensures these talented students and dedicated volunteers have the resources they need throughout the competition. It also helps send the winning team to present internationally at the Student Design Competition (SDC) during the WEFTEC in the United States.

Become a Sponsor

For more information, contact:

2026 competition Winners

In March 2026, Team BioWise Solutions from the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) was named the winner of the 2026 BCWWA Student Design Competition. The team is comprised of: Gianmarco Urbano(Lead), Prabhkirat Singh, Brian Castillo, Alexander Reis and Benjamin Mendoza.

Their winning presentation found innovative ways to balance green and gray infrastructure to create a more resilient community at the Fishtrap Creek Watershed in the City of Abbotsford.

Team BioWise Solutions accepted an award at the 2026 BCWWA Annual Conference & Trade Show and will go on to compete at the 2026 WEFTEC Student Design Competition. Both events provide excellent exposure to potential industry employers.

Five people wearing suits pose together with their arms around each other's shoulders. The group stands indoors in front of a stone accent wall and a framed landscape artwork.

Thank You To Our 2026 Sponsors!

Volunteer Opportunities

The BCWWA is always looking for members who are dedicated to their work in the water sector and are willing to get more involved, no matter the area of expertise or experience level. We offer a range of opportunities for you to meet new people and build your professional network, expand and deepen your professional knowledge and make a meaningful contribution to realize our vision of people having safe water and a healthy water environment.

Volunteer with us

Get in touch with us if you would like to get more involved in the Student Design Competition.