Civil & Environmental Engineering students from the University of Utah earned top honors at the 2026 Water Environment Association of Utah (WEAU) Student Design Competition, held during the WEAU Annual Conference in St. George on April 18.
The team’s project focused on global water stewardship, developing innovative and sustainable water treatment solutions for the city of San Rafael. Their design addressed the challenges of delivering cost-effective, reliable, and locally appropriate treatment systems for a developing community, with an emphasis on improving water quality, system efficiency, and long-term sustainability.
“This is a significant achievement for the university and our department,” said Tayyab Qureshi, president of the University of Utah WEAU Student Chapter. “The competition challenges us to apply engineering principles to real-world problems while emphasizing sustainability, teamwork, and innovation. Winning at the state level reflects the dedication and effort of our entire team.”
With their first-place finish, the team will go on to represent Utah at WEFTEC 2026 in New Orleans this September, competing at the national level against top student teams from across the country.
The winning team includes graduate students Tayyab Qureshi, Kyle Murray, Helen Salako, Saryashi Ghosh, Fiza Mansoor, Vidisha Kashyap, and Chris Kolishak. The team was advised by Dr. Ramesh Goel and supported by industry mentors Archana Dahal, Jayesh Charthal, Gary Vance, and Mike Charlhom.
Their success reflects the strength of the University of Utah’s Civil & Environmental Engineering program and its commitment to preparing students to address complex global water challenges.
