Best thesis in VA 2025

To raise awareness and raise the status of the water and sanitation field, Svenskt Vatten, Structorstiftelsen and the Swedish Water Industry award a prize for the best thesis in the water and sanitation field once a year. The hope is that the prize will contribute to more students at Swedish universities choosing water and sanitation as a focus for their future thesis and subsequent professional lives.

The prize consists of three scholarships of SEK 50,000 for 30 credits and one scholarship of SEK 25,000 for 15 credits.

The winner will be selected according to the following criteria:

The winners of Best Master's Thesis in VA 2025

This year's award winner is Kaleb Engvall, Emil Planhem, Koushikk Suyambulingam Raja, Jacob Ammenberg and Julia Lofberg. Three organizations are behind the award: Swedish Water, Water industry and The Structor Foundation who have come together to create interest in and attract more people to choose the water and sanitation industry.

A special thank you to this year's jury:

  • Daniel Hellström, Head of Quality and Development, Norrvatten Municipal Association
  • Jesper Olsson, development engineer, Käppala Association
  • Sofia Andersson, development engineer, Stockholm water and waste AB
  • Gustav Myhrman, Unit Manager, Mälarenergi Vatten AB
  • Dennis Adolfsson, Group Manager VA Process, Sweco and Board Member Vattenindustrin
  • Matilda Jirblom, process engineer, Ramboll and chair, Next Generation Focus Group for the Water Industry

Best degree project 30 credits:

Kaleb Engvall, Method selection for PFAS removal – An investigation of pilot trials at waterworks (Uppsala University)

In the thesis, the results from pilot trials at six waterworks in Sweden have been analyzed and compared. The aim was to investigate the suitability of different methods and the impact of water chemistry on PFAS removal. The results show that nanofiltration is the one, of the tested methods, that provides the most effective PFAS removal. 

Justification
”"The report addresses a highly topical topic that we need more knowledge about. The work is considered to have high news value and high relevance, while the report is both well-structured and well-formulated."” 

Best degree project 30 credits:

Emil Planhem, Understanding the Dynamics of Microbial Growth and Disinfection Strategies in Granular Activated Carbon Filters for Drinking Water Treatment (KTH)

The thesis looked at the potential growth of unwanted microorganisms in carbon filters and how different sources of contamination could accelerate growth when the combination of ultrafiltration (UF) followed by granular activated carbon (GAC). Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was also evaluated for disinfection and regeneration of carbon filters, as a potential point-of-care measure for unwanted microbial growth. 

Justification
”"The thesis addresses a relevant topic and has a high news value. The thesis is well-written, has a clear structure and is easy to understand despite the complexity of the topic. The work is also well-balanced and it is clear what the limitations of the study are."”

Best degree project 30 credits:

Koushikk Suyambulingam Raja, Why Water Consumption Is Declining in Gothenburg: Factors and Future Strategies Exploring the driving forces behind decline in water consumption and suggest practical solutions(Chalmers University of Technology)

In Gothenburg, over the past two decades, per capita water consumption in residential areas has decreased from 178 liters per capita per day (lpcd) in 2006 to approximately 130 lpcd in 2023. This reduction was achieved without any coercive measures and its scientific cause is unknown and open to speculation. This thesis investigates the most important factors and may contribute to developing effective water saving strategies for other cities. 

Justification
”"The thesis explores a very relevant topic that needs to be highlighted more often and the work has great news value. Furthermore, the thesis has carried out extensive work and used a methodological approach that has created rigorous results."”

The winners of the bachelor's thesis 15 credits:

Jacob Ammenberg and Julia Löfberg, Greenhouse gas emissions from medium-sized wastewater treatment plants – Identification and measures (Linköping University) 

Despite an increasing global focus on climate change, there are still uncertainties about where in the treatment processes greenhouse gases are formed and to what extent. The study is based on a combined method approach that includes a literature study, interviews and analysis of climate calculation tools from medium-sized Swedish wastewater treatment plants. The aim is to identify and analyze the main direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions within Scope 1 (direct emissions) and 2 (indirect emissions from, for example, energy production) from medium-sized Swedish wastewater treatment plants.

Justification
”"The thesis addresses a key challenge for Swedish wastewater treatment plants. The work is carried out with a clear methodology, is easy to understand and has high relevance."”