Uisce Éireann Wins Top Prize at Water-Share Ireland Inaugural Hackathon at DCU, with Innovative Solution for Sanitation Crisis in Sierra Leone

The top prize went to one of eight participating Uisce Éireann teams – which also included representation from UCD and Veolia  – team nine comprising Jonathan Deane, Tom Cuddy, Dr Sarah Cotterill (UCD), Peter McNulty, Dara White, Esther White, and Vincent Beritault (Veolia).

Their winning solution, the Urine Diversion Dry Toilet (UDDT), specifically addresses critical sanitation challenges in Sierra Leone, where pit latrines – a type of toilet that collects human waste in a hole in the ground- are not feasible due to unsuitable ground conditions. The team recognised the economic and agricultural hardships in Sierra Leone, where the national minimum wage is under €20 per month, and only 4% of farmland is owned by farmers. Additionally, the soaring cost of fertilisers, exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, has reduced crop production, as farmers are planting only half of their fields.

Pictured L-R: Dara White, Tom Cuddy, Jonathan Deane, Esther White, Vincent Beritault, Peter McNulty (Missing from photo: Dr Sarah Cotterill).

The UDDT offers a sustainable and affordable solution by converting human waste into compost, which can serve as a much-needed fertiliser alternative. This innovation not only addresses the sanitation crisis but also has the potential to boost agricultural output and food security in Sierra Leone, where the agricultural sector comprises 60% of the GDP.

Winning solution, the UDDT pitch

Prof. Fiona Regan, Director of the DCU Water Institute, praised the Hackathon’s participants, stating,

“The energy, innovation, and collaboration demonstrated at this event have been inspiring. The winning UDDT project is a brilliant example of how one solution can simultaneously address both sanitation and economic challenges. The Water-Share Hackathon has showcased the power of teamwork in developing real-world, scalable solutions.”

Alan Reade, Global WASH Advisor at GOAL Global and a judge at the event, echoed the excitement:

“It was brilliant to see such high levels of creativity and collaboration. The winning UDDT solution addresses both a critical sanitation issue and the urgent need for affordable fertiliser in Sierra Leone. We look forward to exploring ways to pilot these solutions in the field and see how they can impact vulnerable communities.”

Hackathon Participants 2024 pictured in DCU

Other awards were presented to the following teams:

• Runner-up: RPS Group one for their rainwater capture solution using locally sourced materials.
• Communication Award: Uisce Éireann team eight for their Twin Schools project, which focuses on driving behavioural change.
• Translation Award: Uisce Éireann team 11 for their innovative Water ATM/Kiosks for remote communities.
• Sustainability Award: Glanua for developing fit-for-purpose greywater management technologies for humanitarian camps.
• Social Enterprise Award: RPS Group team two for their Sustainable Household Composting Toilets.

The Water-Share Ireland Hackathon demonstrated the power of cross-sector collaboration to drive tangible, impactful solutions for communities in need. These innovations, particularly the UDDT, have the potential to transform both sanitation and agriculture in regions like Sierra Leone.

Inaugural Water-Share Hackathon Trophy 2024

Alan Curran, Water-Share Ireland Chair, expressed his excitement for future Water-Share Ireland Hackathons, stating,

“The success of this inaugural hackathon is a testament to the ingenuity of Ireland’s water, engineering, and academic sectors. It’s inspiring to see how collaboration and creativity can tackle some of the world’s most critical WASH challenges. I look forward to many more Water-Share Ireland Hackathons, where the power of collective expertise proves that, indeed, two heads are better than one, and that innovative teamwork can drive real-world solutions.”

ENDS