CWRA 2026-27 Undergraduate Student Design Competition (SDC)

Participants of the CWRA 2026-2027 Undergraduate Student Design Competition (SDC) tackled a real-world water problem, working in teams to develop innovative solutions. The aim of the competition is to promote practical problem-solving skills, teamwork, and professional development among students from various regions across Canada.

The annual competition, led by CWRA SYP National and our sponsors, encourages students to apply their academic knowledge to practical, real-world challenges, fostering creativity and collaboration.

The full problem statement, including additional details and requirements, will be released soon. In the meantime, here’s a preview:

The project is to provide a hydrologic, hydraulic, and fluvial design solution to support work on a new greenfield highway interchange in Ontario at a preliminary design level to support an environmental assessment. While the horizontal alignment of the interchange should be considered fixed, several design options should be analyzed and a preferred alternative selected to support the preliminary design approval. The interchange is proposed to coincide with the current location of a creek confluence and a creek realignment is proposed to reduce the number of structures required to complete the interchange. The creek is known Redside Dace habitat, which is currently listed as Endangered under both the provincial and federal Species at Risk acts.

The drainage and stormwater management design solution should include:

• A review of typical Ontario stormwater management requirements including making reference to the MTO Highway Drainage Design Standards as well as typical fluvial geomorphology requirements set by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority;
• A hydrological assessment to determine return period design flows including the impacts of climate change to a year 2100 design horizon;
• Hydraulic analysis of proposed drainage structures (e.g. ditches, culverts, bridges, etc.);
• A desktop fluvial geomorphological assessment to support the proposed channel realignment required;
• A stormwater management assessment to identify a mitigation strategy to meet water quantity control, water quality control, erosion control, and water balance requirements;
• Documentation and drawings to support the preferred alternative.

 

If you have any questions, please contact syp@cwra.org

Merci aux sponsors du concours !

This competition is proudly sponsored by WSP, CHI, and CWRA SYP, whose generous contributions include project statement materials, PCSWMM Software as well as financial support for the monetary prizes and travel grants.