Japanese Students Win Stockholm Junior Water Prize

Tsutomu, Daisuke and Kaori, students at Okinawa Prefectual Miyako Agriculture and Forestry High school, received the Prize from the hands of HRH Crown Princess Victoria on behalf of the Stockholm Water Foundation. They also received a $5,000 scholarship and a crystal sculpture.

The Stockholm Junior Water Prize is presented each year to a high-school age student(s) for an utstanding water-related project focusing on topics of environmental, scientific, social or technological importance. The international honor is given to an individual or group who, like their 25 co- competitors, has been awarded the top prize among national competitions. The National Country winners travel to Stockholm from as far afield as Israel, Australia and Vietnam. The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) administers the competition on behalf of the Stockholm Water Foundation. The international competition is sponsored globally by ITT Industries.

The Nominating Committee awarded the Prize to Japanese students "for the development and application of an environmentally friendly organic fertilizer for the Miyako Island. The method is applicable to many places around the world."

Protecting Groundwater by Creating and Using an Environmentally Friendly Fertilizer

Since it lacks surface water, the Japanese island of Miyakojima relies solely on groundwater for its freshwater needs. Unfortunately, much of the groundwater is contaminated due to the extensive use of commercial agricultural fertilizers, which are rich in the pollutants nitrate nitrogen and phosphorus. Tsutomu, Daisuke and Kaori developed an environmentally friendly, organic fertilizer as an alternative to commercial fertilizers. Combined with proper management techniques, the organic fertilizer not only gives Miyakojima's farmers the ability to reduce the nitrate contamination; it even recycles phosphorus accumulated in the soils. An Honourable Mention was also given to Ron Neuman from Israel, for his "development of an innovative microbial sensor based on engineered bacteria to monitor toxic chemicals in water."

"Often dismissed as a long-term problem, the global water environment is now in a debilitated state and requires immediate focus on how to best manage and recycle this vital resource," said Robert Ayers, President of ITT Industries' Fluid Technology. "Education, primarily among our youth, is necessary to ensure a future that has a water environment healthy and robust enough to support our growing world. The Stockholm Junior Water Prize helps meet that objective and is the reason ITT Industries has been the proud global sponsor for six years."

Stockholm Junior Water Prize

The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) administers the competition on behalf of the Stockholm Water Foundation. The international competition is sponsored globally by ITT Industries.

About the Sponsors and Organizers

In the United States, the Water Environment Federation is the NationalOrganiser of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, and ITT Industries is the National Sponsor. WEF is a not-for-profit technical and educational organisation with members from varied disciplines who work toward the WEF vision of preservation and enhancement of the global water environment.

About ITT Industries

ITT Industries, Inc. is a $6 billion global multi-industry company based in White Plains, NY. ITT supplies advanced technology products and services in key markets including: fluid and water management including water treatment; defense communication, opto- electronics, information technology and services; electronic interconnects and switches; and other specialty products. In addition to the New York Stock Exchange, ITT Industries stock is traded on the Midwest, Pacific, London, Paris and Frankfurt exchanges.

About the SIWI

The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) is a policy think tank that contributes to international efforts to combat the world's escalating water crisis. SIWI advocates future-oriented, knowledge-integrated water views in decision making, nationally and internationally, that lead to sustainable use of the world's water resources and sustainable development of societies.