Professional information solutions provider Reed Elsevier has announced the winners of the Reed Elsevier Environmental Challenge, which seeks to award innovative solutions to improve sustainable access to safe water and sanitation. The $50,000 first and $25,000 second prize winners were awarded during the annual World Water Week in Stockholm, which convenes water researchers, policymakers, journalists, companies and nonprofits addressing the key water challenges of the 21st century.
The winner of the first prize is the "Iron-amended Biosand Water Filter in Nepal" developed by Tommy Ngai, Director, Research Learning at the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology (CAWST). Ngai's project modifies conventional biosand filters with iron particles to remove all three classes of water contaminants, including viruses, and bring safe drinking water to two impoverished villages in Nepal.
The second prize was awarded to "Sustainable Sanitation in Urban Slums of Africa" developed by Lindsay Stradley of Sanergy. The project will expand a pilot project in Nairobi to ensure that hygienic sanitation becomes accessible and affordable through a network of small-scale, high-quality sanitation centres close to homes.
Chosen from a shortlist of five candidates and 140 original applicants, the winning projects were considered replicable, scalable, sustainable and innovative, emphasising solutions with practical applicability. Both projects will be featured in the Elsevier Journal of Water Research.
