I developed an intelligent biofilter made from Beninese agricultural waste to improve the quality of water from rural wells. By combining real-time water quality monitoring, the circular economy, and intelligent filter condition estimation, I aim to provide a local, sustainable, and scalable solution to improve access to safer water.
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Manager for Stockholm Junior Water Prize
Alia Baidoun
2026•Eliézer Mahugnon Honnonkpe
SMART-BIOFILTER BENIN: Development of a smart biofilter using local agricultural waste to sustainably secure drinking water for rural communities
Access to quality drinking water remains a major challenge in several rural communities in Benin, where people continue to rely on traditional wells vulnerable to physicochemical and microbiological contamination. In response to this situation, the SMART-BIOFILTER BENIN project offers an innovative solution combining water treatment, agricultural waste valorization, and intelligent water quality monitoring. The study was conducted using water from a rural well located in the village of Akpali (Zè commune). A site vulnerability assessment and a physicochemical characterization of the water confirmed the need for treatment before consumption. To address this need, several local agricultural waste products were studied for their potential for transformation into biochar, with particular attention paid to coconut shells. Experimental tests have demonstrated the effectiveness…
