Chinese Students Win International Stockholm Junior Water Prize

... were awarded the prestigious Stockholm Junior Water Prize, sponsored globally by ITT Corporation, in a formal ceremony during World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden.

Wang, Weng and Xiao, students at Shanghai Nanyang Model High School, received the Prize from HRH Crown Princess Victoria on behalf of the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) for a research project that aims to ecologically restore urban Chinese river channels. The group of students received a $5,000 scholarship.

The International Stockholm Junior Water Prize, held during World Water Week from August 20 to 26, encourages young people globally to take note of issues related to water and the environment. Each year a high-school age student or group of students receives the international award after receiving the top national award in their home country. The National Country winners travel to Stockholm from as far as Israel, Australia, and Sri Lanka.

The Nominating Committee, in its official motivation, awarded the Prize to the Chinese group of students for their project, "Application Research and Practice of a Comprehensive Technology for Restoring Urban River Channels Ecologically." This recognition marks the first year China, co-sponsored nationally by China's State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) and ITT, received the international award since its participation in the competition began four years ago.

Technology for Restoring Urban River Channels Ecologically

Shanghai and its surrounding areas are plagued with severely polluted river channels. To combat this environmental issue, the Chinese Prize winners explored several cost effective, highly efficient treatment methods originating from the concept of "urban pre-tank engineering technology" -- a combination of dredging, irrigation and spraying. The team developed and improved several methods, facilities and technologies, with four of these inventions earning patents in 2006. The students executed research on the Caoxi River, where the water is dark and odorous from pollutants. When integrating their innovations with comprehensive technology, the students' research had substantial positive effects on the water quality, raising levels to either reach or exceed the domestically recommended standard for surface water.

The jury also awarded Sri Lanka and Japan honourable mentions as runner ups in the competition. Sri Lanka's recognition comes in its first year participating for the prize, also sponsored nationally by ITT. The student groups from both Sri Lanka and Japan sought solutions to major agricultural issues in their countries. With food and agriculture consuming the most water worldwide, these projects have both national and global implications.