World Water Week was held in Stockholm from Aug. 16-22, where more than 2,000 attendees convened to collaborate on major issues related to water pollution and shortages around the world.
Each year, World Water Week acknowledges the accomplishments and dedication of select individuals and players.
Toilet Systems
This year, the Stockholm International Water Institute awarded Indian sanitation innovator and social reformer, Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, the Stockholm Water Prize. As the founder of the Sulabh International Social Service Organisation in 1970, Dr. Pathak led the development of cost-effective and culturally appropriate toilets and related treatment systems to replace the traditional unsanitary bucket latrines in poor communities throughout India.
Dr. Pathak has worked to improve public health, advance social progress, and improve human rights in India and other countries through his work in sanitation technology, social awareness and health education for millions of people in India.
“The results of Dr. Pathak’s endeavors constitute one of the most amazing examples of how one person can impact the well being of millions. Dr. Pathak’s leadership in attaining these remarkable socio‐environmental results has been universally recognized, and not least by those who have secured the freedom of human dignity as a consequence of his efforts,” the Nominating Committee remarked.
Notable Technology
Ceren Burçak Dag of Nisantasi, Turkey, received the 2009 Stockholm Junior Water Prize out of 60 finalists from 29 countries, all winners of their national competition. Dag was recognized for developing an innovative method for generating energy through piezoelectric pulses from falling rain drops. The judges also recognized Emily Elhacham of Israel for her innovation that detects water contamination chemical sensors using metal nanoparticle networks, and Mary Zhao of Canada, for her method of inducing precipitation using the Ice Nucleating Protein.
Trojan Technologies, a Canadian developer and proponent of large‐scale ultraviolet (UV) water disinfection systems used worldwide, was awarded the 2009 Stockholm Industry Water Award for changing the way the world looks at disinfection of water.
Baltic Sea
The Helsinki Commission (HELCOM), a marine environmental organization, won the 2009 Swedish Baltic Sea Water Award for its development of the Baltic Sea Action Plan to address the existing problem of in the Baltic Sea of extensive “eutrophication” from phosphorus and nitrogen pollution that causes large-scale algae blooms, as well as from overfishing, oil spills, waste from cruise ships, and an oxygen depleted-seabed, among other problems.
Due to the geographical, climatological, and oceanographic characteristics of the Baltic Sea, the Sea is highly sensitive to the environmental impacts of human activities. HELCOM works to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution through intergovernmental co-operation between Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, and the European Community.
