Monica Emelko is a Professor of Environmental Engineering and Canada Research Chair in Water Science, Technology & Policy at the University of Waterloo, where she also serves as the Director of the Water Science, Technology & Policy Group. Monica’s research is focused on drinking water supply and treatment, and risk analysis for public health protection.

She advises the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Health Canada and several Canadian provincial governments on drinking water treatment requirements and health risk assessment. She also collaborates with over a dozen water utilities and conservation authorities across North America.

Monica is the Scientific Director of the forWater NSERC Strategic Network for Forested Drinking Water Source Protection Technologies a Canada-wide and internationally-partnered research network of academics, water utilities, government agencies, industrial forestry companies, and organizations focused on forest management-based approaches for drinking water source protection.

Monica co-leads the Southern Rockies Watershed Project (SRWP), who were the cited by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for identifying quality-associated threats from climate change to water security. They were awarded the 2014 Council of the Federation Award for Water Stewardship and an Alberta Emerald Award. In 2016, Monica and SRWP Co-Principal Investigator Uldis Silins were recognized by the Premier for service to the province of Alberta as a first responder during the Horse River wildfire in Fort McMurray.