Neo Chai ChinToday Online 26 Jun 08;
MULTI-MILLION dollar water treatment systems are well and good, but in times of disaster, it is affordable technology that best serves the people.
Calling for new ideas on affordable post-disaster solutions, the Nanyang Technological University’s Lien Institute for the Environment (Life) launched its WaterLoo Challenge yesterday.
With disasters increasing in frequency and intensity, safe water supply and sanitation are essential in disaster management, said Associate Professor Li Bing, Life’s director, at the Water Expo.
“Looking around the expo, it’s all very expensive equipment, something I don’t think impoverished countries can afford,” said Assoc Prof Li, who has harvested rain water in Guangxi, China, and used chemicals and sandstone filtration to remove arsenic from the drinking water of Medan’s villagers. “We’re looking for new ways to use local materials for solutions, for example, sand, iron or even bamboo to cleanse water.”
Applicants can submit their proposals from now until October. They will be judged by a panel of academics and industry leaders, and results are likely to be out next May. The top three entries win US$15,000 ($20,460), US$10,000 and US$5,000 respectively. The winning entry will also get up to US$20,000 more to further develop its idea.
For more information, visit www.ntu.edu.sg/cee/life/.
US$15,000 for best idea to provide clean water in post-disaster areas
Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia 26 Jun 08;
SINGAPORE : The inaugural Waterloo Challenge 2009 will giving out US$15,000 for the best idea to solve water and sanitation problems caused by natural disasters.
Organised by the NTU's Lien Institute for the Environment, it is looking for innovative, yet affordable solutions for the impoverished people in the rural disaster areas, like those affected by the recent earthquake in Sichuan and Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar.
The first runner-up will walk away with a cash prize of US$10,000, and the second runner-up will receive US$5,000.
