Mapping the Future: Summer Intern Kellan De Guzman Joins the Water Federation

As a summer intern with the Water Federation, engineering student Kellan De Guzman is hitting the road across Alberta to help bring rural water system maps into the digital age.

"I'm really excited to dive into the water industry," Kellan says. "It's a critical field, and something we all use every day. Being part of a smaller team at the Water Federation gives me a unique, hands-on opportunity to learn how these community water systems actually run."

Originally from Brooks, Alberta, Kellan completed a Mechatronics Engineering Technician program at Ontario’s Loyalist College before returning to the province. He is currently pursuing an engineering degree at the University of Alberta and will enter his second year this fall.

It was an unexpected academic assignment that first sparked his interest in the water sector. For a class research project, Kellan explored how automation and AI are being applied to wastewater treatment, and what he found caught his attention.

"Seeing how technology can actively improve wastewater and water reuse made me realize that this is an industry I want to be a part of," he says. "When I saw the opportunity with the Water Federation, I knew it would be a great way to continue building on what I had already learned."

This summer, Kellan is traveling across the province to support the Water Federation’s GIS mapping project. Accurate digital maps are essential for operators, making it faster to respond to emergencies, plan maintenance and hand off system knowledge. For some of Alberta’s older co‑ops, those maps don’t yet exist in any reliable form.

"No matter which engineering discipline I specialize in at the U of A, the experience I’m going to get this summer will be incredibly valuable. Getting on the road, seeing the diverse landscapes of Alberta and meeting local contractors and operators on‑site will be an amazing experience."

For Kellan, the summer is a foundation for whatever comes next. Working alongside local operators and seeing real infrastructure up close is the kind of practical knowledge no lecture hall can provide.

"I can’t wait to see where the road takes me," he says.