Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2018 opens for nominations

Singapore — Singapore International Water Week (SIWW), the global platform to share and co-create innovative water solutions, officially opened its call for nominations for the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2018.

One of the key highlights of SIWW, the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize honors outstanding contributions by individuals or organizations toward solving the world’s water challenges by developing or applying innovative technologies, policies or programs which benefit humanity. This prestigious international award is named after Singapore’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, whose foresight and leadership have enabled Singapore to attain a sustainable water supply.

Since its inception in 2008, the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize has gained a standing in the global water arena as the premier Water Prize amongst its peers, by focusing on innovative water technologies, policies or programs that have been game-changers in their real-world application. The honor roll for the Water Prize includes laureates who have developed ground-breaking solutions in membrane technology and used water treatment, as well as holistic water policies and management practices that have benefitted the lives of millions. Their achievements represent the pinnacle in sustainable water solutions that have made a difference to cities and people around the world.

The Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2018 laureate will receive S$300,000, a certificate, and a gold medallion at the award ceremony to be held during SIWW 2018.

Water Prize Laureates (2008-2016)

Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2016 Laureate – Professor John Anthony Cherry was awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2016 for his contributions to the advancement of groundwater science, policies, and technologies. His revolutionary research in collaboration with international partners has provided the global groundwater community with a better scientific framework to formulate policies and best practices.

Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2014 Laureate – Orange County Water District (OCWD) was awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2014. The impact of their successful water reuse program extends far beyond the county to the states of Texas and Colorado in the United States, and has also been replicated in countries such as Australia, Singapore to achieve water sustainability through water reuse, benefitting millions in the process.

Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2012 Laureate – Professor Mark Van Loosdrecht was awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2012 for his breakthrough contributions in used water treatment, with his completely autotrophic nitrogen removal process – Anammox. Prof. van Loosdrecht has introduced a paradigm shift in the understanding of the used water treatment process. His ground breaking work in marrying nature and engineering has formed the basis for many variants in use today.

Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2011 Laureate – Dr James Barnard was awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2011 for inventing a biological method to treat used water so that it can be returned safely to lakes and rivers. His technology, Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR), uses naturally-occurring micro-organisms instead of conventional chemicals to remove nitrogen and phosphorous from used water.

Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2010 – Yellow River Conservancy Commission (YRCC) was awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2010 for its outstanding accomplishments in integrated basin management that is unrivalled in scale. YRCC has secured water supply for over one hundred million people, restored extensive areas of wetlands and biodiversity, and protected some 90 million people living in the flood-prone areas.

Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2009 – Professor Gatze Lettinga was awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2009 for this breakthrough, environmentally sustainable solution for the treatment of used water using anaerobic technology His revolutionary treatment concept enables industrial used water to be purified cost-effectively, and produces renewable energy, fertilisers and soil conditioners.

Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2008 – Dr Andrew Benedek was awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2008 for his outstanding work in pioneering the development of low-pressure membranes in water treatment. He has shown how drinking water can be produced from different water sources, even those that are highly polluted.

Nominations for the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2018 close on June 30, 2017. For more information, visit www.siww.com.sg or email leekuanyewwaterprize@siww.com.sg.