Professor Gatze Lettinga awarded Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2009

Jessica Yeo, Channel NewsAsia 24 Jun 09;

SINGAPORE: Professor Gatze Lettinga was awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2009 by President SR Nathan at the Istana on Wednesday.

This is to recognise the professor's use of anaerobic technology to create an environmentally-sustainable solution for the treatment of used water.

Professor Lettinga beat 38 other international nominations to clinch the award.

His winning concept not only helps purify industrial used water but produces renewable energy, fertilisers and soil conditioners as well.

Professor Lettinga's concept is currently used in close to 3,000 reactors - about 80 per cent of the world's anaerobic used water treatment systems.

- CNA/yb
LKY Water Prize winner honoured at Istana
Straits Times 25 Jun 09;

A DUTCH scientist who developed an energy-saving waste-water treatment reactor was honoured at the Istana yesterday.

Professor Gatze Lettinga's invention is used in more than 3,000 - or 75 per cent - of anaerobic industrial and domestic water treatment systems worldwide.

For his work, Prof Lettinga, 72, was awarded the 2009 Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize by President SR Nathan yesterday.

His system makes use of technology which mimics the way nature breaks down waste in the absence of oxygen.

The technique is considered less energy intensive compared to other treatment methods, as it produces energy in the form of methane gas, which can be reused as fuel, while processing up to 20 times more waste.

On the award, Prof Lettinga said: 'It is a very prestigious and motivating prize to win; a unique kind of acceptance for the field in which I work.'

The award comes with a cash prize of $300,000. Last year's inaugural award was won by Dr Andrew Benedek, a Canadian who was recognised for his pioneering research into membrane filtration.

Earlier yesterday, Prof Lettinga, accompanied by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim, called on Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at the Istana.

Dutch professor wins 2009 Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize
Business Times 25 Jun 09;

PROFESSOR Gatze Lettinga from The Netherlands was awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2009 yesterday for his environmentally- sustainable solution for the treatment of used water.

Speaking at the 2nd Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize Award Ceremony at the Istana last night, Tony Tan, chairman of the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize Council, said: 'Impactful inventions like Prof Lettinga's embody the spirit of innovation, tenacity and relentless pursuit of improvement that the Water Prize seeks to recognise.'

Prof Lettinga's Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor purifies industrial used water in an energy-efficient and cost-effective manner while producing renewable energy.

'I believe that innovative technologies for treating used water, waste and gas will contribute to more sustainable living, which the world urgently needs,' said Prof Lettinga.

Prof Lettinga also chose not to patent his UASB reactor and as such, many developing countries have access to a low-cost, sustainable used water treatment system.

The Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize comes with a cash prize of $300,000, an award certificate and a gold medallion. The award is sponsored by the Singapore Millennium Foundation, which is supported by Temasek Holdings.

A major part of the prize money will go to the Lettinga Associates Foundation (LeAF), said Prof Lettinga.

LeAF is an independent knowledge centre working on the development and implementation of sustainable environmental protection technologies.