Tomorrows water

Your challenge: propose your solutions for conserving water at home.

What’s the story?

You are chief engineer for water supply experts World Water, and you are launching a major new scheme to develop a street of sustainable eco-homes. World Water want you to come up with an idea for a water conservation system for these houses that will help save the environment and the tenants’ water bills too. Once your proposal is complete you must present it on video to possible investors in your scheme.

Water conservation system

Think big, don’t restrict yourself. Your water conservation system could be anything from reusing waste water to a high-tech device for saving water. Your idea should either reduce the amount of water people use or address at least one source of wasted water common in private homes (e.g.leaking pipes). Or you could invent an innovative solution for stopping taps from dripping.

Just remember, your system should be environmentally friendly and sustainable.

What you need to do

Once you have come up with your challenge solution, produce a video (max. five minutes) presenting it. There is no right or wrong way to do this. You can use any props you want or just do a talking head.

  • You should include:
    • Diagrams and props to help describe your idea
    • Some information about your project team – the kind of engineers and scientists that you would use on the project
    • How you could promote your idea to home owners. Many people might not be keen on change. How would you explain to them that yours is the better solution?

Want to make sure you get your point across? Have a look at our Presentation tips.

It’s time to look into the future of water and get those ideas flowing!

Here are some questions to get you started…

  • Where in private homes do you think the most water gets used?
  • Where in private homes do you think the most water gets wasted?
  • What types of waste water can be reused rather than needing to go down drains or sewers?
  • Once you’ve answered the above questions think about how these water problems could be tackled
  • Which technology would be best to use in your conservation system?
  • Which materials do you want to use? Remember World Water wants the system to be green
  • Could your idea be a very simple one which would be cheap or easy to implement ?
  • How could natural conservation systems in plants and animals help you with your idea?
  • What’s the best way to promote your system? Could educating people about water waste and conservation help?

Want more information? Check out these links…

On this site:

On the internet:

 How will your entry be judged?

To really impress the judges your entry has to meet three equally weighted criteria:

  • Engage! You have to communicate with your audience in an exciting and engaging fashion
  • Understand! You must show that you understand the science behind the challenge and your solution
  • Solve! You need to offer a solution to the problem you have been presented. The more innovative and interesting your approach the better!

Submitting your challenge video

Upload your challenge video now, using the IET Faraday Video Wizard.

Closing date for submitting your entries is the 14th December. Don’t forget to read the terms and conditions before you enter.

If the judges choose your video as one of the 4 regional winners, your winning team will be invited to take part in the filming of 4 ‘Faraday returns’ videos with leading scientists and engineers. Filming will take place in January, please therefore ensure that your team is available during this period.