SECTION C : TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION AWARDS
Emerging Technology in Desalination
Description: Recognizes innovative desalination technologies that improve cost-efficiency, reduce energy demand, minimize brine disposal challenges, or use renewable energy for freshwater generation.
Eligibility:
- Start-ups, research organizations, companies, or utilities developing desalination innovations.
- Technology must be at least at pilot/demo stage or early commercial deployment.
Judging Criteria (100 points):
- Technological Innovation (30)
- Energy & Cost Efficiency (25)
- Environmental Sustainability / Brine Management (20)
- Scalability & Replicability (15)
- Market Impact / Adoption Readiness (10)
Notes: Entrants must submit evidence of trials, data on energy savings, and environmental compliance.
AI & IoT Solutions for Smart Water Management
Description: Awarded to organizations developing AI, machine learning, or IoT-based tools that optimize the water supply chain, leak detection, predictive maintenance, demand forecasting, or wastewater management efficiency.
Eligibility:
- Technology developers, start-ups, utilities, or collaborative projects.
- Tools must be tested/practically deployed in real-world conditions.
Judging Criteria (100 points):
- Innovation & Uniqueness of Solution (30)
- Operational Impact / Efficiency Gains (25)
- Usability & Integration in systems (20)
- Scalability & Adoption potential (15)
- Sustainability (data-driven optimization, reduced resource use) (10)
Notes: Evidence of deployment (case studies, utilities served, pilots) required.
Best Water Treatment Technology (Domestic & Industrial)
Description: Recognizes innovative water purification and treatment solutions (household filters, community-level treatment, industrial-scale systems) that ensure safe and sustainable water.
Eligibility:
- Product manufacturers, OEMs, researchers, start-ups, industries.
- Both domestic and industrial categories included.
Judging Criteria (100 points):
- Effectiveness in Contaminant Removal (25)
- Innovation in design/technology (25)
- Environmental Sustainability (20)
- Ease of Use / User-friendliness (20)
- Scalability & Adaptability (10)
Notes: Submissions must include test certifications, lab results, or field data.
Digital Transformation Award in Wastewater Management
Description: For projects leveraging automation, AI, IoT, and digital twin models in wastewater management for monitoring, predictive analytics, and operational efficiency.
Eligibility:
- Utilities, industries, start-ups with projects in operation >1 year.
Judging Criteria (100 points):
- Innovation & Use of Digital Tools (30)
- Real operational impact (water treated, downtime reduced, efficiency improvements) (25)
- Replicability & Scalability (20)
- Cost Effectiveness & ROI (15)
- Sustainability (energy/water savings) (10)
Notes: Entrants to share dashboards/use cases and verifiable deployment outcomes.
Best Leak Detection / Smart Meter Technology Innovation
Description: Award for hardware/software solutions addressing Non-Revenue Water (NRW) through reduction in leakage, illegal connections, or better metering accuracy.
Eligibility:
- Solution providers, start-ups, utilities using such systems.
Judging Criteria (100 points):
- Technological Innovation (30)
- Accuracy & Efficiency Effectiveness (25)
- Cost Advantage (20)
- Scalability in urban/rural settings (15)
- Sustainability Benefits (water saved, NRW % reduced) (10)
Notes: Submissions must show deployment evidence (before/after NRW levels).
Breakthrough Energy-Water Nexus Technology
Description: Highlights technologies targeting the interdependence of water and energy (e.g., energy-efficient pumps, wastewater-to-energy recovery, renewable-powered treatment plants).
Eligibility:
- Start-ups, corporates, research projects demonstrating water-energy optimization.
- Must show measurable output (energy/water use reduction).
Judging Criteria (100 points):
- Innovation & Uniqueness (30)
- Savings in Energy-Water resource nexus (25)
- Sustainability & Carbon Reduction Impact (20)
- Scalability (15)
- Market/Adoption Readiness (10)