Austria’s Environment Minister Josef Pröll explains the background details of the foundation of this award: “The Ministry of Life (BMLFUW) and its partners have been spending years of effort in raising public awareness of this precious resource. The NEPTUN Award shall motivate people to make a personal contribution to a sustainable water management. Everyone can contribute in their own individual way, through scientific achievements as well as through art projects.” NEPTUN 2007 is run by BMLFUW in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour (BMWA), the ÖVGW, the ÖWAV and several provincial governments (Vienna is represented by the Vienna Waterworks – MA 31) and is sponsored by Verbund and Kommunalkredit Public Consulting GmbH, among others. Together these partners award prizes for innovative water projects totalling € 41,000!
Similar to recent years, NEPTUN will in 2006/2007 again be awarded in the categories WasserSCHUTZ (waterPROTECTION), the audience award – this year under the motto WasserEMOTION (waterEMOTION) –, and WasserKREATIV (waterCREATIVE). WasserSCHUTZ is given in recognition of the ecologically sustainable handling of water in Austria.
Entries may be projects, works and initiatives that seek to protect, preserve and restore natural habitats inside and near water bodies. But also technologies, methods and projects aimed at flood protection as well as the reduction and elimination or prevention of water contamination will be recognised. WasserEMOTION shall mainly reflect impressions, moods and feelings related to water; photographs, videos or stories may be entered.
Focus is on the relationship between human beings and water. WasserKREATIV, the most popular contest apart from the audience award, deals with the artistic and cultural aspects of water. Entries may be drafts, works and projects presented in all sorts of styles, techniques and media.
This year NEPTUN for the first time recogni-ses two additional technical categories: Wasser- WELT (waterWORLD) and WasserKOMMUNIKATION (waterCOMMUNICATION).
1.1 billion people around the world are without access to clean drinking water. WasserWELT primarily seeks to support self-aid projects to alleviate the situation. Answers to global challenges – and here mainly technical solutions, ecologically and socially sound water utilisation concepts and new wastewater treatment methods – are needed. The successful protection of our domestic water bodies requires public participation.
With a view to fostering public involvement at European level, the EU Water Framework Directive seeks to step up public information policies. WasserKOMMUNIKATION is therefore centred on public information and awareness-raising concepts for a careful handling of water. Entries may be projects submitted by schools and other educational institutions; but also events, campaigns and initiatives promoting increased awareness and appreciation of water are invited.
The NEPTUN Water Award was founded in 1999 and is awarded every two years. The prize money in each category is € 3,000. The € 5,000 main prize goes to the best and most innovative project among all received nominations. The deadline for sending in nominations to all categories is 31st October 2006. The winners will be awarded by the Environment Minister on a day yet to be announced in conjunction with the World Water Day in March 2007. Detailed participation documents can be downloaded from the Internet website www.wasserpreis.info
(Source: aqua press Int. 3/2006)
