Pontso Moletsane, Motobele Motshodi, and Sechaba Ramabenyane from South Africa were awarded the prestigious Stockholm Junior Water Prize, sponsored globally by ITT Industries, during World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden.

Moletsane, Motshodi and Ramabenyane, students at Setjhaba Se Maketsee Combined School in South Africa, received the Prize from HRH Crown Princess Victoria on behalf of the Stockholm Water Foundation. The group of students received a USD $5,000 scholarship.

The Stockholm Junior Water Prize is presented each year to a high-school age student or group of students who have conducted an outstanding water- related research project focusing on topics of environmental, scientific, social or technological importance. The international honour is given to an individual or group who, like their co-competitors, has been awarded the top prize among national competitions. The National Country winners travel to Stockholm from as far as Israel, Australia, and China.

The Nominating Committee, in its official motivation, awarded the Prize to the South African group of students for their project, "Nocturnal Hydro Minimiser, an electrically operated automatic water system."

Nocturnal Hydro Minimiser
The Nocturnal Hydro Minimiser is designed to minimize the need for water in small-scale irrigation. The students developed a low-current electric soil humidity sensor which uses light detection to control water pipe valves and improve irrigation efficiency. By automating irrigation so it occurs mostly at night, less water is lost to evaporation. The invention is technically simple and inexpensive to produce. Yet, the system enables communities to use limited water resources more efficiently, to improve food production and to improve poverty conditions.

"Water is the most fundamental element to life on Earth, and how we use this resource will shape the future of humanity. We must encourage future generations to guard this resource by developing and studying innovative solutions to global water issues," said Steve Loranger, President and Chief Executive Officer of ITT Industries. "The Stockholm Junior Water Prize encourages tomorrow's leaders to tackle today's water issues in hopes of one day ensuring global access to clean, fresh water."

This year the jury also decided to award three other countries with "Diplomas of Excellence," which consist of a diploma and a USD $500 award to each one. The awarded finalists are:

• Ricardo Martin Robledo and Antonio de la Cruz Caceres from Argentina;


• Itzel Garcia Silva and Liliana Vargas Meneses from Mexico; and


• Marc Campeny and Marc Oliva from Spain.

Sponsors and Organizers