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.