H2wOw

Citeuropass 2024, 2nd wave

Level-Zero – H2wOw

Frugal Innovation for water safety

Co-authors

Nathan Malbranque (France)

Richard Klein (Slovakia)

Alexandra-Ioana Simon (Romania)

Cătălin Arsene (Romania)

Samuel Štefek (Slovakia)

Nikolay Stoimenov (Bulgaria)

Adrian Mînzat (Romania)

Stoyan Cholakov (Bulgaria)

Project Overview:

H2wOw is an innovative, frugal solution developed by students as part of the Citeuropass program. This project aims to create an accessible and eco-friendly water testing kit, utilizing biotechnology to detect water pollutants without relying on chemical processes.

The Challenge:

With one in four people globally lacking access to safe drinking water, H2wOw addresses the critical need for affordable and reliable water quality testing. Traditional methods are often expensive, time-consuming, or leave harmful chemical residues.

Our Solution:

H2wOw leverages the natural sensitivity of Artemia (brine shrimp) to water contaminants. This biological approach offers a sustainable alternative to chemical testing kits, aligning with Citeuropass’s focus on frugal innovations that use “life as technology”.

1st successful hatching of the Artemias

Key Features:

  • Eco-friendly: Uses living organisms instead of chemicals
  • Affordable: Designed for cost-effective production and use
  • User-friendly: Simple enough for household use
  • Sustainable: Minimal environmental impact
  • Frugal: Maximizes functionality while minimizing resource use
 

How It Works:

  1. The kit includes dormant Artemia eggs and a miniature incubation chamber.
  2. Users activate the eggs in a water sample.
  3. After 24 hours, users observe the Artemia’s behavior through a simple microscope attachment.
  4. The growth patterns and behavior of the Artemia indicate water quality and potential pollutants.
 

The Team:

H2wOw was developed by a diverse team of students from France, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania, showcasing the power of European collaboration in addressing global challenges.
Lab Team

Learn More:

For a comprehensive overview of the H2wOw project, including detailed technical specifications, research methodology, and potential applications, please consult our full documentation: