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Finalists 2013

Stockholm Junior Water Prize
Argentina • Australia • Belarus • Belgum • Canada • Chile • China • Cyprus • Finland • France
Germany • Hungary • Israel • Japan • Latvia • Mexico • the Netherlands •Norway • Republic of Korea
Russian Federation • Singapore • South Africa •Sri Lanka • Sweden • Thailand • Turkey • Ukraine
United Kingdom • united states of america

The Stockholm Junior Water Prize
Each year, the Stockholm Junior Water Prize international competition brings together young scientists and innovators from around the world who have created new solutions to the planet’s growing water challenges. Each of
the finalists represented in Stockholm are the champions of their national competitions, and have been selected
as winners from thousands of entries.
This year we are very proud to host the18th annual competition and welcome
the winners of national competitions from29 countries: Argentina, Australia, Belarus,
Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Cyprus,
Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel,
Japan, Latvia, Mexico, The Netherlands,
Norway, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation,
Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden,
Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom
and United States.
The Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition proves that brilliant young minds canfind inspiration in unlikely places.

Ingenious teams from the world over haveshown how to clean water and protect marine
environments with substances ranging fromoysters to eggshells. They see opportunityand hope where others find challenges andhave developed cost-efficient and immediate solutions, applicable the world over.
In this catalogue, you can learn more about
the innovative research and inventions thatearned each of the 2013 finalists a placein competing for this international honour.
All the finalists were invited to Stockholm
for the special opportunity of meeting andwith present leaders of the global watercommunity and making life-long friendships
with international compatriots who share apassion for water and science. This visit
includes the chance to receive the international prize from H.R.H. Crown Princess
Victoria of Sweden, during an exciting
ceremony, which will be held this year on
Wednesday September 4.
World Water Week participants have theopportunity to meet this next generation ofwater leaders at this year’s conference byvisiting their booths in Hall B.

The International Jury
The competitions International Jury includes experts within
the field of water who, appoint the winner of the international
final by committee consensus. The decision is based on the
finalists written report, a short presentation of their display
material and a round of interviews. The jury members areappointed by Stockholm International Water Institute Board.

THE 2013 INTERNATIONAL JURY MEMBERS
Dr. Fredrik Moberg, (Chair), Sweden; Dr. Johan Groen,
USA; Ms. Charlotte de Fraiture, Netherlands; Ms. Eileen
O’Neill, USA; Dr. Piet Lens, Netherlands; Ms. Susana
Sandoz, Canada; Danka Thalmeinerova, Sweden and
Ms. cajsa larsson (Secretary), SIWI, Sweden.

About the Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition
The competition is open to young people
between the age of 15 and 20 who haveconducted water-related projects at
local, regional, national or global levels
on topics of environmental, scientific,

social or technological importance.
The international winner receives a USD
5,000 award and a prize sculpture. As aresult of the competitions, thousands ofyoung people around the world become

interested in water. H.R.H. Crown
Princess Victoria of Sweden is thePatron of the Stockholm Junior Water
Prize. Xylem is the global sponsor of theStockholm Junior Water Prize.

Argentina

4

Germany

9Singapore

14

Austr alia

5

Hungary

9South Africa

15

Bel arus5

Isr ael10

Sri Lank a15belgium

5

Japan

11

sweden15

Canada6

Lat via11

thail and

16

Chile

7

Mexico11

Turkey

16

China

7

the Netherl ands

12

Ukr aine

17

CYPRUS

7

Norway13

United Kingdom

17finl and8

Republic of Korea

13

United States

17

Fr ance

9

Russian Feder ation

13

Photo: Adrian Puigarnau, SIWI

Index

The 2013 Stockholm Junior Water Prize Finalists

ARGENTINA
Technological advances for theTreatment of Industrial EffluentsBy Ezequiel Solis & Julian Zuñiga

The Argentinian delegation proposesa breakthrough in the use of photoactive catalysts irradiated with ultraviolet
light. In combination with oxygen fromthe air, catalysts can be used to treat
industrial effluents carrying organicand inorganic pollution, inducing theoxidation of the organic loads and the
reduction of the inorganic of metal
ions. The scheme proposed was tested
with a prototype, simulating industrial
effluents, and achieved mineralisation oforganic substances as well as reductionof metal ions.

National Organiser
AIDIS Argentina (Asociación
Argentina de Aingeniería
Sanitaria y Ciencias Ambiente)
Sponsors
AYSA, Ecopreneur, Xylem
Water Solutions Argentina
S.A., Enersystem Argentina S.A.

4

www.siwi.org/stockholmjuniorwaterprizewww.siwi.org/prizes/stockholmjuniorwaterprize

BELARUS

belgium

Facing the Reality of Groundwater Salinity
By Declan Fahey

Sorption Properties of
Alginic Acids Originated from
Laminaria and Its Usage in
Water Treatment
By Sviatlana Kazlova

Water, Source of Life, Can it be
a Source of Energy?
By Alexis Pierson & Loïc Preud’ homme

Undertaken in Tasmania, Australia’s
most southern state, the delegation from
Australia set out to model the effects ofsalinisation on soil from water movement in potato crops. This was utilisedby an examination of water movementin potato cells due to variations in salt
concentration in extra-cellular fluids.
From such a model, one could infer
the likelihood of successful large-scale
crop production in Tasmanian soils inareas affected by groundwater salinity,and by extension, in salinity-prone areas
across the globe.

In order to treat contaminated waters
naturally, the delegation from Belarus
set out to establish the sorption properties of natural materials, such as alginic
acids. Alginic acids were collected fromthe Laminaria thalli and tested for
quality. The Belarusian delegation
found that alginic acids have very good
sorption capacities. Furthermore, anadditional beneficial quality of alginic
acids was found; due to its excellent
sorption qualities, the acids can also be
used as antiseptic combines, for example
in adhesive plasters.

The Belgian delegation has created an
ecological, economical and sustainable
battery that runs on water. The battery
is based on the oxidation-reduction
process and constitutes an alternative
to currently used batteries that are amajor source of pollution, significantly
reducing their environmental impact.
The reaction takes place between ametal electrode, made out of zinc ormagnesium, and water. The electrodereleases electrons which induces anelectric current that supplies energy tothe electric circuit of the device.

National Organiser
Australian Water Association

National Organiser
The Republic EcologicalCenter of Children and Youth

National Organiser
Jeunesses Scientifiquesde Belgique

SponsorCoca-Cola Beverages Belarus

Sponsors
Vivaqua, Belgian Science
Policy Office, MILSET

Sponsors
Xylem, Australian Science
Teachers Association

Photo: Edelpix

AUSTRALIA

5

The 2013 Stockholm Junior Water Prize Finalists

canadaEggshells: Simple, Practical,
Cost Efficient Remedy toAddress Cadmium Pollution
By Hannah Landry

In many countries around the world,the levels of Cadmium (Cd) pollution
have increased to hazardous levels.
The goal of the Canadian delegation
was to discover a low cost, practical,
viable water filtration system working
to remove Cd from water in developing nations. The study examined theefficiency of eggshells from six breedsof chickens in their ability to remove
Cd from drinking and waste water.
Results proved the capacity of eggshells
to remove Cd from water and determined the Hungarian Yellow to be themost efficient.

National Organiser
Western Canada Water
Environment Association
Sponsors
Canadian WEF MA’s, Canadian
Water and Wastewater Association, Xylem, Prominent Fluid
Controls Ltd., Eramosa Engineering Inc., American Water
Terratec Environmental

6

www.siwi.org/stockholmjuniorwaterprizewww.siwi.org/prizes/stockholmjuniorwaterprizechinacyprusPsychiobacter: Antarctic Cooperation on Bioremediationof Oil-Contaminated Waters
By Naomi Estay & Omayra Toro

Development and Test of Robot
for Prevention and Control of
Water Bloom
By Qian Dashi, Li Chang & Feng Yikai

Creating a Sustainable
Desalination System ThroughRenewable Energy Generation
Using Brine as an Energy
Storage Medium
By Antonis Antoniades

The delegation from Chile have identified Antarctic psychophiles that arecapable of metabolising phenanthrene(a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon,
PAH) as the sole source of carbon foruse in bioremediation of contaminatedwaters in extreme low-temperaturezones. The research conducted by
the Chilean delegation yielded twelve
bacterial strains capable of degrading
phenanthrene.

Blue algae water bloom proposes a serious environmental hazard and creates
the need for eutrophication prevention
and treatment of water. The robot
developed by the Chinese delegation
is designed to control water bloom.
The robot adopts solar energy as an
auxiliary power, uses new water pressure
filters and possesses several innovative
functions, including anti-blockage. This
creative innovation can automaticallywork in waters, removing floating algae
and preventing its burst in large areas.

Desalination is from its nature a very
energy-dependent process. The delegation from Cyprus, aiming to curb thelarge energy demand for this activity,
has devised a new model that fits right
into the desalination system. This
brand new, innovative model provides
renewable energy and uses it to create
electricity. In addition, this method
allows for the use of solar energy indaylight as well as at night.

National Organisers
Ministry of Public Works,
General Water Directorate,
International Hydrological
Programme (IHP), UNESCO
Chilean Chapter, Aidis, Sochid

National Organisers
Center for Environmental
Education & Communicationsof Ministry of Environmental
Protection of China

National Organiser
Water Museum of Lemesos

Sponsors►china:
Aquas Andinas,
Colbun,previous
winner
2006
Sodimac, Nestlé

Sponsor
Xylem

Sponsors
Hellenic Bank, PriceWaterHouseCoopers, Green Dot,
Cyprus Technological
University, Phileleftheros
NewspaperPhoto: Henrik Trygg, Stockholm Visitors Board

chile

7

The 2013 Stockholm Junior Water Prize Finalists

finlandDetermining The Viabilityof Struvite Precipitation as
an Alternative Method for
Phosphate Ion Removalfrom Wastewater
By Filip Soich
The aim of the Finnish delegation wasto quantitatively determine, under laboratory conditions, whether dissolved
phosphate could be removed fromwater and thus recovered through theprecipitation of struvite. The practicalcomponent showed that there was over
99 per cent decrease in remaining
phosphate levels in the solution.
The benefits as well as the difficulties
of precipitating struvite to remove
phosphate from wastewater were also
qualitatively discussed throughout
the work.

National Organiser
Water Association Finland
Sponsors
Ekokem Ltd., HSY Water
Services, Kemira Chemicals
Ltd., Uponor Finland Ltd.,The Land and Water
Technology Foundation,
Finland8

www.siwi.org/stockholmjuniorwaterprizewww.siwi.org/prizes/stockholmjuniorwaterprizegermany

hungary

Tip Tap Top: Water Saves,
Save Water!
By Robin Menelot, Olivier Arconte &Lucas Baraize

Detector for Finding the
Optimum Washing-Performanceof Washing Machines Based on
Impedance-Spectroscopy
By Dana Tran & Wolfgang KöbeleThe Importance of the
Szinva-Stream – Biologicaland Chemical-PhysicalExaminations
By Péter Polák, Jr, Dézi Kakas &János Béri

How many children waste water whilewashing their hands every day aroundthe world? Too many! Kids, do you
always wash your hands as you aretold? Not always… The delegationfrom France and Tip Tap Top teaches
this task in a new and amusing way,
reducing water waste by up to 70 per
cent while increasing sanitation andhygiene. Through a jolly jingle, Tip Tap
Top guides children and shows them
how fun it can be to wash their hands.
Last but not least, the device is totallyautonomous! Water saves, save water.

In the washing machines of today,
washing powder is added manually, andoften, too much is added. This not only
leads to a higher consumption of washingpowder, but also to a higher consumptionof water when rinsing. This presents anenvironmental issue in a time where
preservation of water is more important than ever. The full washingpower of a machine is only achieved
around about the critical micelleformation concentration (CMC).
The delegation from Germany aimed
to find the optimum washing powderconcentration by applying the Impedance-Spectroscopy to the washingsolution.

The Hungarian delegation presentsa small part of a research projectthat began in 2010. The Hungarian
students have investigated the water
quality of their local stream, the Szinva,
whose water is used by the city for the
production of drinking water as well as
for industrial purposes. The delegationfrom Hungary has made measures withcredible devices and methods in order topresent feedback to the local authorities.
The delegation is hoping that the results
generated can assist in the improvementof the water quality and preserve theirbiggest treasure – the Szinva.

National Organiser
French Office of theFoundation for Environmental
Education in Europe (FEEE)National Organiser
Stiftung Jugend Forscht E.V.

National Organiser
Global Water Partnership(GWP)

Sponsors
FEEE, French Ministry of
Sustainable Development,
French Water Agency of
Seyne-Normandy

Sponsors
Water for Life Foundation,
Coca-Cola HBC, GE Water &Process Technologies,
Budapest Waterworks,
Hungarian Wastewater
Association, Public Utility
Evaluation Cluster, Hauraton

Photo: Jeppe Wikström, Stockholm Visitors Board

france9

The 2013 Stockholm Junior Water Prize Finalists

israelEver Green: Smart Irrigationin the Palm of Your Hand
By Yeari Vigder & Noam Arye Nassi

The project presented by the Israelidelegation proposes a cheap and easy
way to use a remote sensing system
for farmers in developing countries.
This inspiring innovation provides aplug-in and a smartphone applicationthat delivers an immediate field condition feedback that allows for water saving. The plug-in sensors are mounted ona moving platform that takes snapshotsof the crops and calculates the field’s“Water Index”, indicating what areas
need more or less water. The delegationfrom Israel has constructed a working
prototype by using a small helicopter, atablet and sensor units. This prototype
has been tested on real fields.
National Organiser
Faculty of Engineering,Tel Aviv
Sponsors
The Aby and Aladar Fleischman
Faculty of Engineering in
Tel Aviv University, Manueland Rawuel Klachky Fund,
Water Authority

10

www.siwi.org/stockholmjuniorwaterprizewww.siwi.org/prizes/stockholmjuniorwaterprizelatvia

MexicoA Challenge to Reduce Seabed
Litter in the Seto Inland Sea
by Two Activities Gatheringand Education
By Yua Yamaguchi, Ayumi Inoue &Shiho Tsukiji

Wastewater Purification From
Phosphates Using Various
Materials
By Arturs Janis Petersons &Rolands Capars

Extraction and Purification of
Cactus Mucilage and Its Effectas Coagulant-Flocculant to
Produce Drinking Water for the
Inhabitants of Rural Areas
By Clarissa Camargo Tapia,
Doryan Brenda Laura Callejas López& Julisa Guadalupe Lugo Pacheco

It is estimated that over 13,000 tonnes ofgarbage is piled up at the bottom of the
Seto Inland Sea. The Japanese students
have tackled this problem in two ways.
First, they have removed garbage fromthe sea bed through the use of large
trawling fishing nets attached to fishing boats. Furthermore, the Japanesedelegation has strived to educate thepublic about the damage caused to the
Seto Inland Sea through garbage waste.
By taking these two steps, the Japanesedelegation hopes to significantly reduce
the garbage located at the bottom of the
Seto Inland Sea.

The Latvian delegation has aimed
to determine the ability of various
materials, such as dolomite, red brick,travertine and gravel, to sorb phosphateions. The delegation used preparedphosphorus containing solutions as wellas wastewater samples from washingmachines in order to investigate thedifferent sorb abilities. Final results
showed that travertine was the mosteffective material to sorb phosphates,with the ability to sorb about 95 percent of phosphates from wastewater.
However, other materials appeared tosorb phosphates as well and were foundable to sorb phosphate ions below thepermitted concentration in wastewaters.

The project presented by the delegation from Mexico was performed ina Mexican rural area using a local
and biodegradable product known as
mucilage (cactus fibre). The Mexican
delegation tested three different water
sources recharged by wastewater containing TC, FC, Na; As, F, Pb and
TDS, which all exceeded the Mexican
regulation. For each water source, 200,
300, 400 and 500 mg/L mucilage powder were applied. In addition, a control
dose of Al (SO4)3 was added. Results
showed that all parameters measured
were similar in both cases, therefore
safe drinking water might be obtained.

National Organiser
Japan Water Prize Committee

National Organiser
Education, Culture and Sports
Department of Riga City Council

National Organiser
Mexican Academy of Sciences

Sponsors
Lion Corporation, CTI Engineering Co. Ltd., Nippon Koei
Co. Ltd., Tokyo Construction
Consultants Co. Ltd., Pacific
Consultants Co. Ltd., Executive
Committee of River Day

Sponsors
SIA “Rigas Udens”, Education,
Culture and Sports Department of Riga City Council

sponsorer

Academia Mexicana de Ciencias,
Alfa Laval S. A. de C. V., Cámara deComercio Sueco-Mexicana, Colegio de Ingenieros Ambientalesde México AC, Comisión Nacionaldel Agua-CONAGUA, Embajada deSuecia, Ericsson Telecom S. A. de
C. V., Fundación Coca Cola, Grupo
Urrea, Instituto Mexicano de laJuventud, Kemira de México S.A.
de C.V, Sandvik de México, S.A. de
C.V., Sistema de Aguas de la Ciudadde México, Tetra Pak, S.A. de C.V.,
Xylem Water Solutions México S
Del Rl De Cv

Photo: Jeppe Wikström, Stockholm Visitors Board

japan

11

The 2013 Stockholm Junior Water Prize Finalists

the netherlands
Green Cities
By Kimberly Schoenmaker &Lotte Hoes

The delegation from the Netherlands
shows how it is possible to design anapartment building with a green roof
as efficiently and inexpensively as possible. This building would be especiallybuilt for the purpose of water storage incities. The Dutch students touch upon
the issues of mass calculation, types ofsoil and the possibilities of green roofs.
This project also discusses the main
issue of how green cities can help citymanagement in their fight against risingwater consumption.

National Organiser
Wetsus, Netherlands Water
Partnership
Sponsors
Wetsus, Netherlands Water
Partnership, Partners for
Water, Rijkswaterstaatwww.siwi.org/prizes/stockholmjuniorwaterprize

Republic of
Korea

RussianFederation

Producing Reusable Photocatalyst and Its Application
By Seohee Kim & Isabella Kim

Geophysical Methods ofGround Water Monitoring
By Vadim Tereletsky

The use of de-icing road salts to improve
winter road conditions is linked to anincreasing salinity in nearby lakes.
This increase in salinity can lead tochanges in density gradients, stratification as well as circulation patterns,
resulting in oxygen depletion.
The Norwegian delegation has investigated the current situation as wellas the long-term development of thelake Gjersjøen. The lake’s salinity is
increasing, but the circulation is not
yet affected. The Norwegian project
presents several recommendations toprevent a further negative development.

Photo catalysts, especially the TiO2,
present a promising way of decomposing
pollutants. However, there is one major
issue preventing this method from being
adopted in reality; photo catalysts are
too small to be separated from a solution.
Therefore, the delegation from theRepublic of Korea has developed a new
type of photo catalyst that is producedby synthesising TiO2 with Fe3O4.
This innovative type of photo catalyst can be separated from a solution
through the use of a magnet. The newphoto catalyst has been investigated forboth properties and application.

The delegation from the RussianFederation has conducted a geophysicalsurvey of an area around a well to assess
the risks of potential infiltration of oil
products from a new gas station into
the drinking water. The assessment
was conducted from a novel methodof joint interpretation of results using
electric tomography and electric charge
measurements. The direction of laminargroundwater flow was established bya sanitary-topographic survey of thegeological structure of the area. Results
showed that the gas station could not
be the source of well water pollution.
A computer analysis of field measurements detected other potential sourcesof well water pollution, which originated in the communal sector.

National Organiser
Norwegian Hydrological
Committee, Norwegian Water
Association, VA-yngre,
Norwegian Water Resources
and Energy Directorate

National Organiser
Korea Water Forum

National Organiser
Environmental Projects
Consulting Institute

The Impact of De-Icing Road
Salt on Surface Water– Focusing on the Drinking
Water Supply Gjersjøen
By Hanne Minken Farestveit,
Johannes Nyland Tandberg &Anna Grønning

Sponsors
Clean Water Norway,
Brimer, Godt Vann
Drammens-regionen

Sponsors
Korea Water Forum, Ministryof Land Infrastructure andTransport, Ministry of Security
and Public Administration,
Ministry of Environment,
Daegu Metropolitan City,
Province of Gyeongsangbuk-do,
Daegu Metropolitan Office of
Education, Gyeongsangbuk-do
Office of Education, Andong
City, K-Water, Swedish Embassyin Seoul

Sponsors
Environmental Projects
Consulting Institute, State
Grant of the RussianFederation, Federal Ministryof Natural Resources andEcology, The State Atomic
Energy Corporation “Rosatom”,
Coca-Cola Hellenic in Russia,
State Research Center“Planeta”, RosvodokanalGroup, Google Grants

Photo: Stockholm Visitors Board

norway13

The 2013 Stockholm Junior Water Prize Finalists

singapore
Use Of Recycled Clam Shells In
Water Purification
By Yinn Jaye Ong, Kang Le Yeo &Wei Jin Gong

Water polluted by heavy metal ionsposes significant health risks. The
delegation from Singapore has set out
to compare the effectiveness of the lalaclam, blood cockle and mussel shells inremoving heavy metal ions under different pH levels. An easy-to-construct,cheap and eco-friendly filter capableof removing close to 100 per cent ofmetal ions was constructed using themore effective lala and blood cockle
clam shells, low-cost charcoal, recycled
bottles and sand. This filter can be usedby those in poverty-stricken areas toobtain clean, potable water.

National Organiser
Lien Foundation, Ngee Ann
Polytechnic
SponsorsNgee Ann Polytechnic, Lien
Foundation, Public Utilities
Board (PUB), Singapore’s
National Water Agency

14

www.siwi.org/stockholmjuniorwaterprizewww.siwi.org/prizes/stockholmjuniorwaterprizesri lank aswedenEvolution of Water Accessand Usage
By Ayanda Tsitsa

Optimizing Soil Moisture forHigher Yield Using Solar Evaporation with Minimum Water
By Navaretnarajah Kishoth,
Shanthalingam Hishanth &Nadarajah Viththiyakaran

An Investigation of Harmful
Substances in Ordinary Garden
Hoses by XRF Spectrometer
Analysis
By Emil Johansson

The South African project addresses
the issue of water waste by introducing
a paddle system that will recycle water
wasted through dripping. The system
will reduce dripping water wastage,
promote efficiency and minimise therisk of waterborne diseases generated inwater pools created around taps wherewater is dripping. This new innovationconsists of a tap, paddle, undergroundfilter tank and a reservoir. The filter andthe reservoir address the issue of dripping water by recollecting, purifying
and reusing the water. This innovation
could become very useful in rural andinformal settlements where the effects
of drip water waste are evident.

As of today, the methodologies used forwatering crops in agriculture are driven
by manually set times, irrespective of
the individual plants’ needs. However,in a time where water conservation is
crucial, a better approach would be touse water crops based on the individual
needs of the plants rather than on a set
frequency. Thus, the Sri Lankan delegation introduces a novel methodology
suggesting to water crops dependingon ambient soil and temperature conditions. By applying this method tomodern agriculture, farmers will be able
to not only conserve water. This method
further proposes an opportunity to use
sea water for watering crops.

The Swedish project has investigated theexistence of environmentally harmful
substances in ordinary garden hoses.
The analysis of the hoses reveals that the
inner PVC plastic contains substantial
amounts of lead, antimony and barium.
The highest amount of lead found in the
PVC plastic was 1,251 ppm. Concentrations of lead over 100 ppm were foundin four out of six of the hoses tested.
Previously conducted studies have foundthat lead has neurotoxic properties
that affect cognitive abilities. Low
concentrations of lead in the blood ofchildren have been linked to reduced IQ
levels. In addition, both antimony andbarium compounds can be poisonous
to humans. The project highlights thepotential health risks related to thepresence of lead, barium and antimony
in garden hoses. Essential in the risk
evaluation is the chemical constellationin which the substances are found.

National Organiser
Department of Water Affairs

National Organiser
Community Led Environmental
Awareness Network (CLEAN)

National Organiser
Stockholm International
Water Institute (SIWI)

Sponsors
Xylem Inc. USA, Industrial
Solutions Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. (ISL)
Sri Lanka, Community Led
Environmental AwarenessNetwork (CLEAN), Sri Lanka.
Ministry of Education,
Sri Lanka

Sponsors
Xylem Inc., Tyréns, Urban
Water, Vattenmyndigheternasponsors
Water Research Council,
University of KwaZulu Natal,
Cape Peninsula Universityof Technology

Photo: Stockholm Visitors Board

south africa

15

The 2013 Stockholm Junior Water Prize Finalists
ThailandWater Prize Finalists
A Novel Bioabsorption
Instrument for Removal of
Heavy Metals from Wastewater
By Cattliya Laohapotjanart,
Thanwarat Jantiwatkun &Patnarin Kattiyasuwong

Common Structures, Common
Solutions – from Water Scales
to Water Towers
By Günnur Tekşen

The delegation from Thailand has aimed
to investigate the heavy metal removal
capabilities of natural absorbents todiscover a cleaner, safer, more cost
efficient and feasible alternative to wastewater treatment. The bio absorbents
chosen were sawdust, coconut fibre andrice husk as they are in abundance andotherwise wasted by products. Results
showed that the studied bio absorbents
were extremely effective, up to 98 per
cent, in the removal of copper, lead andcadmium ions.

In the Ottoman Empire, water distribution towers were used to decrease
the pressure of water flowing fromhigher altitudes, as well as to sharethat water. However, these structures
are not under protection in Turkey
today although the information about
these designs is considered a guiding
element for the use of old technologies
in the construction of new projects.
Because of this, the Turkish delegation
advises that the properties of these structures are to be taught in the physics,
history and architectural departmentsof universities.

National Organiser
Thai Tap Water Supply PCL(TTW)National Organiser
General Directorate of State
Hydraulic Works

Sponsors
The Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science andTechnology (IPST)

16

Turkeywww.siwi.org/stockholmjuniorwaterprize

Ukraine

United Kingdom

Autonomous Device that
Prevents Fish Smothering
By Zenoviya Shvayka

Measuring the Hydrodynamic
Load on Wave Energy Structures
By Astrid Blee, Elena Stronach &Leah Edwards

Fish smothering is a great ecologicalproblem in ponds, rivers and lakes,
and is caused by oxygen scarcity duringfreezing-over periods. Ice holes havebeen a previous solution to this problem.
However, once mechanically drilled, theice holes require systematic renovation.
These known solutions are both dangerous and energy consuming or require
special chemicals. The device developedby the Ukrainian delegation utilises
wind energy to create vertical waterflow in the ice holes, thus preventing
its freezing and providing good aeration to overcome oxygen deficiency inthe water.

Alstom are involved in the developmentof a device to generate electrical powerfrom ocean waves. This innovation,
created by the delegation from theUnited Kingdom, concerns small scalemeasurement of the forces on a wave
device. This provides fundamental
information requested by the designersof the device, who are working towards
a full scale prototype, due to enter sea
trials at Costa Head, Scotland, in 2014.

Explosive growth in the use of silver
nanoparticles in consumer products isincreasing their concentration in wastewater. If the nanoparticles are released
untreated after wastewater treatment,
they can adversely impact benign
microorganisms in our ecosystem.
The study conducted by the delegationfrom the United States of America
investigated sulfidation as a viable treatment method for reducing the toxicity
of silver nanoparticles. It establishedthat exposure to sulfides effectively
reduced the biotoxicity of silver nanoparticles by altering their properties.

National Organiser
Ecoinform

National Organiser
The Chartered Institution of
Water and Environmental
Management (CIWEM)

National Organiser
Water Environment
Federation

Sponsors
CIWEM
sponsors
JBA Trust, The Worshipful
Company of Water
Conservators

Sulfidation as a Novel Method
to Reduce Toxicity of Silver
Nanoparticle Pollution
By Anirudh Jain

Sponsors
Water Environment
Federation, Xylem Inc.

Photo: Nicho Sodling, Stockholm Visitors Board

Sponsors
Dow Europe GmbH, Ecosoft,
WaterNet, Santechplast

united statesof america

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Photo: Cecilia Östhammar, Exray

2012 Stockholm Junior Water Prize Winner

Luigi Marshall Cham, Jun Yong Nicholas Lim and Tian Ting Carrie-Anne Ng, Singapore, receiving the 2012
Stockholm Junior Water Prize from H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria.
The 2012 Diploma of Excellence was awarded to Alonso Alvarez and Daniel Barrientos from Chile.

HOW DO YOU SOLVE WATER?

Xylem Watermark provides and protects safe water resources in communities around the world.
School and Community Projects I Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education I Emergency Response

Xylem congratulates all participants in the 2013
International Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition!
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Stockholm Junior Water Prize Winners
2012 | Luigi Marshall Cham, Jun Yong Nicholas Lim and Tian Ting Carrie-Anne Ng, Singapore“Investigation of the Use of Sodium-Activated Bentonite Clay in the Removal and Recovery of Non-Ionic
Surfactants from Wastewater”
2011 | Alison Bick, USA“Development and Evaluation of a Microfluidic Co-Flow Device to Determine Water Quality”
2010 | Alexandre Allard and Danny Luong, Canada“Research on Biodegradation of the Plastic Polysterene”
2009 | Ceren Burçak Dag, Turkey“A Solution to Energy-Based Water Contamination: Rain as an Alternative Environmentally Friendly
Energy Source”
2008 | Joyce Chai, USA“Modelling the Toxic Effects of Silver Nanoparticles Under Varying Environmental Conditions”
2007 | Adriana Alcántara Ruiz, Dalia Graciela Díaz Gómez and Carlos Hernández Mejía, Mexico“Elimination of Pb(II) From Water Via Bio-Adsorption Using Eggshells”
2006 | Wang Hao, Xiao Yi and Weng Jie, China“Application Research and Practice of a Comprehensive Technology for Restoring Urban River
Channels Ecologically”
2005 | Pontso Moletsane, Motebele Moshodi and Sechaba Ramabenyane, South Africa“Nocturnal Hydro Minimiser”

2004 | Tsutomu Kawahira, Daisuke Sunakawa and Kaori Yamaguti, Japan“The Organic Fertilizer – an Alternative to Commercial Fertilizers”
2003 | Claire Reid, South Africa“Water Wise Reel Gardening”
2002 | Katherine Holt, USA“Cleaning the Chesapeake Bay with Oysters”
2001 | Magnus Isacson, Johan Nilvebrant and Rasmus Öman, Sweden“Removal of Metal Ions from Leachate”
2000 | Ashley Mulroy, USA“Correlating Residual Antibiotic Contamination in Public Water to the Drug Resistance of Escherichia Coli”
1999 | Rosa Lozano, Elisabeth Pozo and Rocío Ruiz, Spain“Echinoderms as Biological Indicators of Water Quality in the Alborán Sea Coast”
1998 | Robert Franke, Germany“The Aquakat – a Solar-Driven Reactor for the Decontamination of Industrial Wastewater”
1997 | Stephen Tinnin, USA“Changes in Development, Sperm Activity and Reproduction Across a 105 Exposure Range in Lytechinus
Variegatus Gametes Exposed to Pesticides in Marine Media”

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www.siwi.org/
stockholmjuniorwaterprize2012 Stockholm Junior Water Prize Contestants