Two award-winning projects will be implemented to help communities gain access to clean water
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., December 7, 2010 — ITT Corporation (NYSE: ITT), Black & Veatch, and Water For People have announced that they will be supporting the improvement, refinement and implementation of two award-winning student water projects that received national titles in the 2010 Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition, one of the world's most prestigious student competitions for water-related research. With this support, national winners from Ghana and the Netherlands will ultimately be able to implement their projects, both of which provide new insights into ensuring access to safe drinking water in the developing world. Over the next year, the students will work with experts in the water field before the two projects are tested and implemented in Ghana in 2011.
"There is nothing that is more inspiring than working with young people on ideas that have the potential to change our world," said Ned Breslin, CEO of Water For People. "When implemented, both of these projects could help to solve some of the real issues Water For People sees every day in regions that lack access to safe drinking water."
The first of the two teams included, Bruno Andreas, Raymond Bentum, David Mclean and Theophilus Sagoe of Ghana, who created a simple, but extremely effective water treatment unit and an educational program that will inspire communities to take local actions to improve their health and environment. The project will also help to diversify options for water supply in rural communities. The second team from the Netherlands included Lianne Siemensma, Wouter van der Wal and Evelien van Zwol, who discovered a way to use radical particles from hydrogen peroxide, chlorine and ozone to disinfect water being transported by contaminated water containers.
Over the next year, the teams will continue to improve their projects in their respective countries and participate in monthly training and reporting sessions with Jim Clark, vice president of Black & Veatch, to obtain additional guidance. The teams will also work together on location in Ghana to fine tune their solutions and upon both projects' completion, both groups of students will meet in Ghana to implement their plans. The teams will present their findings at a special seminar session during World Water Week 2011 in Stockholm.
"The application of these two projects epitomizes the Stockholm Junior Water Prize — bringing together the next generation of water leaders to change the face of science," said Bjorn von Euler, director of corporate philanthropy at ITT. "After sponsoring the Stockholm Junior Water Prize for the last 15 years, ITT is pleased that Water For People will help bring to life projects that are specifically designed to be implemented in developing countries. It marks one of the best opportunities for projects from the competition to become actual solutions that will help provide access to clean drinking water for those who need it."
"Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and the Stockholm Junior Water Prize are pleased to welcome Water For People to our global community of sponsors and organizers. Implementing these two projects is an important step for the Stockholm Junior Water Prize and demonstrates how students involved in the competition are working to make the world a more sustainable place for us all," said Anders Berntel, Executive Director of SIWI.
To learn more about the projects and follow the teams on the journey, please visit www.ittwatermark.com.
About ITT Corporation
ITT Corporation is a high-technology engineering and manufacturing company operating on all seven continents in three vital markets: water and fluids management, global defense and security, and motion and flow control. With a heritage of innovation, ITT partners with its customers to deliver extraordinary solutions that create more livable environments, provide protection and safety and connect our world. Headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., the company reported 2009 revenue of $10.9 billion. www.itt.com
About Water For People
Founded in 1991, Water For People is an international, nonprofit humanitarian organization that focuses on long-lasting, safe drinking water resources and improved sanitation facilities in the developing world. While Water For People is in its 20th year of work it focuses not on creating a dependency on charity in the 11 countries it works in, but rather strengthening the ability of the local community to plan, build, finance, maintain and operate their own systems. The organization works in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America to show that its successful programs are adaptable around the world and can be replicated anywhere. Water For People is a charity of choice of the American water and wastewater community. For more information, visit www.waterforpeople.org.
About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is a leading global engineering, consulting and construction company specializing in infrastructure development in energy, water, telecommunications, management consulting, federal and environmental markets. Founded in 1915, Black & Veatch develops tailored infrastructure solutions that meet clients' needs and provide sustainable benefits. Solutions are provided from the broad line of service expertise available within Black & Veatch, including conceptual and preliminary engineering services, engineering design, procurement, construction, financial management, asset management, program management, construction management, environmental, security design and consulting, management consulting and infrastructure planning. With $2.7 billion in revenue, the employee-owned company has more than 100 offices worldwide and has completed projects in more than 100 countries on six continents.
Press Contact:
Jenny Schiavone
+1 914 641 2160
jennifer.schiavone@itt.com