KAUST-Engineered tool drives sustainable solutions in water conservation
KAUST’s startup EcoStream cuts water waste by 50% while promoting affordability and sustainability, winning the 2024 StartSmart prize.
About
EcoStream, a KAUST-engineered tool addressing water conservation challenges, recently secured first prize at the 2024 StartSmart Competition. Developed by a startup team led by KAUST research specialist Mohammed Abdullah Hussaini and Professor Tareq Al-Naffouri, EcoStream features an innovative AI-driven design that retrofits onto standard faucets to optimize water use, significantly reducing waste and promoting sustainability.
Sponsored by the Community Jameel Foundation Saudi Arabia and organized by Bab Rizq Jameel, the competition was part of the StartSmart Forum held in Jeddah on Wednesday, October 23.
In addition to 72 entrepreneurial projects, the forum showcased outstanding local entrepreneurial talent and hosted numerous distinguished speakers, panel discussions and workshops to help budding entrepreneurs develop their skills and knowledge. The event also featured a 50-strong startup exhibition and a Startup Investment Forum, enabling investors to connect with participants.
Competitors in the StartSmart Competition were divided into three tracks: "Startups," "Social Enterprise," and "Environment," with the KAUST team taking first prize in the environmental track.
Addressing Saudi Arabia's Water Challenges
As the largest country without running surface water and among the highest per capita water consumers globally, Saudi Arabia has long prioritized new sources of potable water and addressing water waste issues due to its growing population and expanding industry. Between 2009 and 2018, the General Authority for Statistics reported an average daily water consumption of 127 liters per person in rural areas and 348 liters in urban areas.
These alarming water consumption patterns inspired KAUST researchers Abdullah Hussaini and Abdulwahab Felemban's decision to develop an innovative, water-saving solution.
"The motivation for creating EcoStream stems from seeing just how much water traditional taps waste every day," Abdullah Hussaini emphasized. "Most households still use standard faucets that require manual control, leading to unnecessary water wastage—whether from taps left running or just inefficient water flow," he added.
Although automatic taps exist, they are often too expensive for the average household and require replacing the entire tap, which can be challenging without professional assistance.
"We wanted to bridge that gap by designing a solution that is both affordable and easy to install. EcoStream retrofits onto existing faucets without the need for expensive installations or alterations," Abdullah Hussaini explained.
EcoStream, founded in 2024, aims to build a diverse and sustainable economy for the Kingdom by managing water waste and revolutionizing water conservation efforts.
The KAUST-engineered system uses artificial intelligence to monitor real-time water usage and adjusts flow control according to individual habits. Designed for scalability and growth, the device adapts effortlessly to various plumbing setups, ensuring versatility and user-friendliness.
In addition, EcoStream has a built-in smartphone app connection and a mini water turbine to keep its battery perpetually charged, eliminating the need to buy expensive replacement parts. In recent lab tests, it has demonstrated a remarkable reduction in water waste by up to 50%, which could result in savings of up to $43 million in desalination costs and water bills, and a reduction of 11,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually.
EcoStream is poised to offer a practical, cost-effective solution to in-Kingdom and global water challenges, inspiring a new way of thinking when it comes to water conservation and sustainability.
"For us, it is about giving people a simple, cost-effective way to reduce their water usage. With EcoStream, anyone can bring smart water-saving technology into their home. Its reactive, retrofit nature allows users to save money while conserving our planet's most precious resource," Abdullah Hussaini emphasized.
"At present, we are piloting EcoStream within the KAUST campus. We are also in discussions with another KAUST startup company—that specializes in water-saving aerators —to further develop our product," he added.
"I truly believe that our technology is far more than a smart faucet," Al-Naffouri noted. "We believe that EcoStream is a truly progressive, transformative tool built for a sustainable future."
