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systems; the water distribution system model and optimiza-
tion for water supply for the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil; and
the management and operation of large-scale hydropower
systems, such as the Brazilian hydropower system and the
Three Gorges Project in China. His work represents the prac-
tical and novel application of methods to deal with many
different and difficult aspects of water management under a
wide and diverse range of situations.
Removing arsenic from groundwater
The Bangladesh water crisis is an ongoing problem, with
around one in five of all adult deaths being linked to chronic
arsenic poisoning. Dr. Ashok Gadgil describes the situation
as “the largest case of mass poisoning in world history.” He
and his team at the University of California, Berkeley won
the Creativity Prize in 2012 for developing an innovative,
effective and economical method of treating the arsenic
contamination of groundwater using electrocoagulation.
The team’s work runs from initial research to a function-
ing technology that is easy to understand, easy to operate,
and locally affordable to communities in the world’s poorest
countries. The required power of 3V to run the machine can
be provided by photovoltaic cells. It provides safe groundwa-
ter at the equivalent of US$ 0.04 per 10 litres.
Other initiatives of PSIPW
Besides awarding its suite of prizes every two years, PSIPW
is active in numerous water-related projects, some of which
focus on combating desertification, as well as on community
development and sustainable agriculture through the resto-
ration and rehabilitation of degraded land. The organization
also has a memorandum of understanding with the United
Nations Organization for Outer Space Affairs (UN OOSA).
Among their joint initiatives is the soon to be launched
Space and Water Portal, an online hub for professionals and
organizations working with space technology applications
for water-related activities.
Image: PSIPW
Dr. Daniel Loucks receiving the Water Management and Protection Prize from HE Mr. Ban Ki-moon at the seventh awards ceremony, New York
Winners of the seventh award. Top row: Rita Colwell, Shafiqul Islam, Peter
Webster, and Gary Parker. Bottom row: Tissa Illangasekare, Rong Wang,
Anthony Fane, and Daniel Loucks
Image: PSIPW