Harmful algal bloom
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) has announced the state winners of the prestigious Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP), and CWEA is proud to recognize California’s top young water scientists for 2026. This year, California received 42 impressive submissions showcasing innovative solutions to today’s water challenges. CWEA extends its sincere thanks to Zaheer Shaikh and the Engineering and Research Committee for volunteering their time and expertise to thoughtfully review each project and support the next generation of water leaders.
First Place – California
Sathvika Siva and Diya Narayanan
Lynbrook High School
Project Title: Rhizosphere-Activated Fertilization: Dual-Trigger pH & Enzyme-Sensitive Fertilizer Pellets to Prevent
Aquatic Dead Zones
Abstract: Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a growing global threat, creating hypoxic “dead zones” that damage ecosystems and endanger human health. A key driver is agricultural runoff: only ~50% of applied fertilizer is absorbed by crops, while the remainder leaches into waterways. This study developed a rhizosphere-activated fertilizer coating to minimize premature nutrient release. Because root zones exhibit acidic pH and contain enzymes from plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), fertilizer pellets were engineered to respond to both low pH and protease activity. Four treatments were evaluated: uncoated control, pH-sensitive (chitosan), enzyme-sensitive (gelatin), and dual-trigger coatings. Performance was assessed through a factorial solution experiment and a three-week plant-based runoff study using Viola cornuta. Under non-trigger conditions, nitrate release decreased by up to 75% in coated treatments (p < 0.05). In plant trials, the dual-trigger system reduced nitrate runoff by 60% relative to the control. These findings demonstrate that dual-trigger, root-responsive fertilizers can significantly improve nutrient targeting and offer a scalable solution to mitigate HABs.
Sathvika and Diya will represent California at the U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition, held June 8–10 in Chicago, IL. The U.S. SJWP winner receives a cash prize of $10,000, a crystal trophy, and represents the U.S. at the international competition held each August at World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden.
CWEA also recognizes a second and third place winner for the state.
Second Place – California
Achuth Vinay and Arnav Gupta
Clovis North HS
Project Title: PReEMPT: A Novel AI‑Based Early Detection Method for Powdery Mildew to Prevent Excessive Fungicide Use and Groundwater Contamination
Third Place – California
Saanvi Sharma
Basis Independent Silicon Valley
Project Title: SAFEGUARDING CITIES FROM FLASH FLOODS: A Novel Multi-Sensor System for Identifying Urban Flood Hotspots
Congratulations to all five of these outstanding students for their achievements, and we look forward to following Sathvika and Diya’s journey at the national competition!
About the Stockholm Junior Water Prize
The SJWP is one of the world’s most respected youth competitions dedicated to water research. It fosters students’ passion for solving water-related issues, from water quality improvement and environmental protection to advancements in drinking water and wastewater treatment technologies.
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