ISTANBUL/ANKARA

Kagan Mehmet Ozkok, a Turkish high school student, received the "Diploma of Excellence" for his project "Sound signal processing-based and AI-powered water guard sensor for faucets and flushes: WAGUSE" at the "Stockholm Junior Water Prize" in Stockholm, Sweden. 

Every year, the "Stockholm Junior Water Prize" is held as part of World Water Week in Stockholm, with over 2,000 water experts, researchers, and representatives from the public and private sectors participating.

Since 1997, the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) has organized the competition on behalf of the Stockholm Water Foundation, awarding the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, Diploma of Excellence, and People's Choice Award.

The "Türkiye Junior Water Prize Project Competition" organized by the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI) determined the project before its submission to the competition.

Ozkok's project was chosen to be sent to Stockholm as first place this year, where he received the "Diploma of Excellence."

The high schooler told Anadolu that the competition is known as the world's most prestigious organization for young people studying water technologies.

Ozkok said the award ceremony took place at the Stockholm Concert Hall, and that Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria presented the award on stage.

"In addition, the fact that this award was presented in the same hall as the Nobel Prizes made me very happy. It was a moment I will never forget in my life. It made me very proud to represent my country and receive an award there."

Ozkok recalled that when the award was announced, they were first discussing the project's content, and he was not sure if the project being described was his.

"When I realized it was my project, I burst into tears and was filled with joy and pride. Then I went up on stage to accept the award," he explained.  

AI-supported water leakage detection system  

Ozkok said that 57 students from 37 countries participated in the competition this year, adding that “I developed an artificial intelligence-supported water leakage detection system. This system, which I named WAGUSE, analyzes the sounds coming from faucets and flushes, detects wasted water within a few seconds, and sends notifications to the responsible personnel. In this way, a serious amount of water waste can be prevented."

He explained that the sensor he developed can also detect water leaks in homes, in public restrooms, and in noisy environments such as hospitals and airports.

Ozkok emphasized that the detection system he developed differs from its counterparts, saying: "The artificial intelligence I developed can distinguish the sound of water leakage from other sounds because we trained it beforehand. We made it listen to water leak sounds for hours. Thus, the artificial intelligence learned for itself."

He explained that the sensor works by being plugged into a nearby socket in areas where water is consumed, and that if water leakage is detected, the red light on the device flashes as a warning.  

Sensor to be used in public areas in Gaziantep  

Ozkok pointed out that the importance of water resource efficiency will gradually increase due to climate change and that water must be protected for future generations.

He added that he had spoken with Gaziantep Mayor Fatma Sahin and that the sensor would soon be used in public areas throughout the city.