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15-Year-Old Girl Creates Solar-Powered System That Purifies Rainwater in the Hinterlands and Wins UN Award for Environmental Innovation and Social Impact.
At 15 years old, while thousands of teenagers were still deciding what to major in college, Anna Luísa Beserra, born in Salvador, Bahia, was already determined to change the lives of entire communities. What started as a school project on sustainability turned, years later, into a project recognized by the United Nations (UN) as one of the most important environmental innovations in Latin America.
In 2019, Anna was awarded the Young Champions of the Earth by UN Environment after developing Aqualuz, a simple, accessible, solar-powered system capable of purifying rainwater stored in cisterns in the northeastern semi-arid region. The invention, created while she was still a high school student, stemmed from observing reality: families in the hinterlands needing to walk kilometers in search of drinking water, even in places where rain was collected but remained unsafe for consumption.
An Idea Born in the Heart of the Semi-Arid Region
Anna’s inspiration came during an educational program on sustainability held at her school. At just 15, she began researching alternative methods for water treatment. By visiting rural communities in the interior of Bahia, she realized that although cisterns installed by social programs stored rainwater, this water was not always safe.
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“I realized that the problem wasn’t just scarcity, but contamination. Many families were getting sick from consuming untreated water,” Anna said in an interview with Agência Brasil.
Determined to create a viable and inexpensive solution, she began to develop a system that used only sunlight as a purifying agent. Thus, the prototype of Aqualuz was born, which is now internationally recognized as one of Brazil’s most promising social technologies.
How the Aqualuz System Works
The Aqualuz consists of a reservoir connected to the cistern. Rainwater is directed to a transparent box, where it is exposed to solar radiation for about four hours, eliminating bacteria and pathogenic microorganisms.
There is no need for electricity, chemicals, or complex maintenance—just the sun and the right exposure time.
According to data from the startup founded by Anna, Safe Drinking Water for All (SDW), each unit has a lifespan of up to 20 years and can purify up to 10 liters of water per hour, serving an entire family. Additionally, the device is equipped with sensors that indicate when the water is ready for consumption.
The technology has been tested and certified by laboratories at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) and received support from research programs of SEBRAE and the Toyota Foundation.
UN Recognition and Social Impact
The Young Champions of the Earth award, granted by UN Environment, is aimed at young entrepreneurs with innovative and high-impact environmental projects. In 2019, Anna Luísa was selected as the representative of Latin America and the Caribbean — becoming the first Brazilian in history to receive this honor.
At the award ceremony held in New York, the UN highlighted that Aqualuz “is a clear example of how simple technology, based on local solutions, can transform communities and improve lives in vulnerable regions.”
Since then, the system has been installed in various rural communities in Bahia, Piauí, Pernambuco, and Ceará, benefiting over 3,000 people with access to drinking water. In partnership with NGOs and local governments, the project also trains community members to install and maintain the equipment, generating jobs and income.
From School Invention to Award-Winning Social Startup
The success of Aqualuz led Anna to found her own social enterprise, SDW for All, with the aim of expanding the solution to other countries in Latin America and Africa.
Today, at 26 years old, she is recognized as one of the world’s leading environmental young entrepreneurs, according to Forbes, which included her in the 2020 Under 30 list in the Science and Education category.
In statements to the press, Anna often emphasizes that the impact of her work goes beyond technology:
“Innovation is not just about creating a product, but about understanding people’s realities and restoring dignity through science. Aqualuz is about this: ensuring that clean water reaches those who need it most.”
In addition to the UN award, the project has also received recognition from the Bahia Industry Federation (FIEB), the National Water Agency (ANA), and international institutions related to sustainability and the green economy.
A Model That Inspires the Future of Environmental Engineering
Anna’s case represents a significant turning point in how Brazil is viewed in the global scientific landscape. In a country historically lacking investment in research, especially in the North and Northeast regions, the trajectory of this young Bahian proves that innovation can emerge from the least expected places.
The UN highlighted in a 2022 report that technologies like Aqualuz play a pivotal role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 6 — Clean Water and Sanitation for All.
Today, Anna is a frequent guest at international sustainability forums and works on environmental education projects aimed at girls and young researchers. In her lectures, she often reminds audiences that the simplicity of the system is the secret to its success:
“The sun is everywhere. It just needed to be looked at in a different way.”
From the Hinterlands to the UN: The Journey of an Idea That Became Hope
The story of Anna Luísa Beserra is more than an example of social entrepreneurship — it is a reflection of Brazil’s ability to produce real solutions to global problems. What began as a school project by a curious teenager today ensures clean water, health, and dignity for entire families in the hinterlands.
And as long as the sun continues to shine over the semi-arid region, the invention of this young Bahian will keep transforming the impossible into everyday reality — one clean glass of water at a time.
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