Four engineering students have been shortlisted in the Water Futures Challenge, bringing them one step closer to becoming the Institution of Civil Engineers’ (ICE) first ever Water Futures Ambassador.
Wavin launched the competition in partnership with the ICE in March, to find innovative solutions to tackle the growing water crisis in the UK. Engineering students and junior engineers were challenged to devise radical solutions to one of four key challenges facing water infrastructure.
Dozens of entries were narrowed down to a shortlist of one per category, with each receiving £1,000 towards their studies and career progression. The shortlisted individuals will present their ideas to a panel of expert judges at a showcase event at the ICE headquarters in London on 1st July, for the chance to win the grand prize and become the ICE Water Futures Ambassador.
In this role, they will have the unique opportunity to join ICE’s Flooding Community Advisory Board, which meets regularly throughout the year to discuss major water issues and solutions. They will also be invited to write blogs for the ICE website, acting as an integral part of its knowledge community.
Those shortlisted for the grand prize are:
- Challenge one: How can we stop our rivers from being polluted?
Andrew Oroke, Newcastle University: ‘Developing a low cost but efficient approach to the removal of pharmaceuticals in urban rivers’
- Challenge two: How can we make use of increasing rainfall?
Naomi Betts, University of Warwick: ‘Use of vertical storage tanks for domestic roofwater harvesting to utilise increasing rainfall’
- Challenge three: How can we defend against flooding?
Amrie Singh, University of Leeds: ‘Can my pipe handle it?’
- Challenge four: How can we make high rises more water and heat efficient?
Soterios Ioakim, University of Sheffield: ‘Utilising a high-rise building’s wastewater for electricity generation’
Martin Lambley, Head Judge for the Water Futures Challenge and Wavin Product Manager – North West Europe, UK, and Ireland, commented: “We had a fantastic response to this competition, with a truly impressive range of ideas presented to us. Each entry has brought a fresh and unique perspective on how we can solve the challenges that are increasingly impacting our water infrastructure, and we can’t wait to hear more from our shortlisted entries.”
Jo Parker, Chair of the Water and Sanitation Community Advisory Board at ICE and Vice President Engineering of the Institute of Water added: “This is a fantastic opportunity to sit on a crucial advisory board at the ICE and to discuss major water issues and solutions with key industry figures. We’re confident that, whoever is chosen, will go on to play an important role in solving the UK’s water crisis.”
Following the event, the grand winner of Water Futures Challenge will be announced on Wavin’s website here: https://www.wavin.com/en-gb/water-futures-challenge
