In landlocked Alberta, every drop of water is increasingly precious as the regional population grows steadily.
Knowing this, one local company is applying machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies to help water treatment operators and plants make better, more informed decisions.
Based in Southern Alberta, Coagtech has created an artificial intelligence modelling system that allows plants to reduce the amount of chemicals used in water treatment by up to 20%. A pilot test at the Lethbridge water treatment plant has yielded the region’s “best tasting water” for two years in a row.
The company was founded in late 2022 by Tyler Bennett, who was raised on a farm before graduating from the University of Alberta for civil engineering. The name is a combination “coagulation,” a chemical treatment process for water, and “technology.”
Since then, Bennett has been applying his expertise to the field of water treatment, with his entrepreneurial journey being supported along the way by key entities such as Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta.
“RINSA … connected me with the right intellectual property contacts, provided guidance on early hiring decisions, and been consistent resources that I have reached out to frequently over the last two years since founding Coagtech,” Bennett informed Alberta Innovates.
Specifically, Bennett has been working with Technology Development Advisor Brandy Old, who says she saw the potential of what his startup represented early on.
“His technology is helping operators treat water; AI can predict what will happen in the water after storms or other events,” she says. “There’s a need for this in our communities.”
Across Canada, there are myriad municipalities contending with aging treatment plants, retiring senior staff, and rising cost pressures, notes Old. The sector is thus ripe for disruption.
Recognizing this opportunity, Bennett last year departed from his role at the City of Lethbridge to commit full time to the entrepreneurial path.
“As I move full-time to Coagtech, I’m excited to expand the tools we offer to water treatment plants to help operators optimize their treatment process,” the founder stated in August. “The role of water treatment plant operators is critical, and can be exceptionally challenging at times. Coagtech is proud to be supporting them with industry-leading tools that enhance operator knowledge, reduce operating costs and environmental impacts, and help treat exceptional water.”
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