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POND Gives the Dommel a Voice During Dutch Design Week

During Dutch Design Week (DDW), the Dommel River gains a unique voice thanks to POND, an innovative light installation by designer Ermi van Oers (founder of Nova Innova). “Have you ever stopped by the water and asked how she is doing?” asks Van Oers. POND invites visitors to pause and consider the health of our water—a topic growing ever more urgent, as only 1% of Dutch water bodies currently meet European water quality standards.

This innovation has been selected as one of the ‘Grand Projects’ at Dutch Design Week 2024 and showed her well-being to thousands of people during the Dutch Design Week.

What is POND?
POND generates energy from water using Microbial Fuel Cell technology. In simple terms, it’s energy produced by bacteria, which naturally exist in the water. These bacteria break down organic matter, releasing electrons in the process. These electrons are captured to create electricity without harming the ecosystem. This electricity is used to measure water quality each hour, and in the evening, it’s translated into a unique light language. The colors and pulse of the light reflect the state of the water’s quality.

Contributing to the Water Framework Directive and Education
POND is not only a magical sight in the evening but also contributes to achieving the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) goals, which mandate that all water in Europe must be of good quality by 2027. “Water quality will become as significant an issue as CO2,” says Van Oers. “We can’t only point to the government or water boards; as a society, we must take responsibility for caring for our water. This is why water awareness is crucial.”

Collaborations and Call for Investment
After DDW, POND will continue to work with Deltares, Rotterdam’s Weerwoord, the Municipality of Utrecht, Waternet, and In-lite. This collaboration will implement POND on various places and explore ways to detect blue-green algae and E. coli in water, as well as use machine learning to anticipate certain climate disturbances. Stimulating dialogue with nature and educating people on better water stewardship are also key aspects of this ongoing development.

Implementing POND will help us learn faster about how to care for our water effectively. By addressing issues at the ‘source’ and restoring our connection with water, we can achieve a symbiotic relationship with nature.

Ermi van OersCEO & Founder, Nova Innova