The Australian non-profit SkyJuice Foundation has been awarded the Innovative Crisis Solutions Award at the fourth cycle of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award, in recognition of its SkyHydrant Emergency Safe Water Solution — a compact, rapid-deployment system designed to provide clean drinking water in the world’s most challenging humanitarian crises.
The award, which is supervised by Suqia UAE under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, includes a prize pool of USD 1 million. It is aimed at advancing sustainable, resilient technologies that tackle urgent global water scarcity and safety challenges.
SkyJuice’s winning innovation, the GEM Rapid Response Pack, is built around the SkyHydrant water treatment system. It is capable of delivering up to 10,000 litres of potable water per day without requiring electricity, chemicals, or highly technical skills. Using passive ultrafiltration, it can be assembled on-site within two to three hours, making it ideal for emergency use in disaster zones and refugee camps.
One of its most innovative features is the “Shake ’n Flush” patented cleaning system, allowing easy maintenance and extending the membrane’s lifecycle to up to four years. This helps ensure the system remains operable with minimal oversight — a crucial feature for use in remote or resource-limited settings.
The technology has been deployed in 74 countries and used by more than 25 NGOs, playing a vital role in post-disaster relief efforts in countries including Turkey, Ukraine, Haiti, Lebanon, the Philippines, and Myanmar. Designed for communities of 500–1,000 people, the system effectively treats non-saline water sources — such as rivers and swamps — to eliminate bacteria, viruses, and turbidity, ensuring safe drinking water.
SkyHydrant’s affordability has been a major strength. With capital costs between USD 1,500 and USD 3,000, the system often costs less than 50 cents per person per year, assuming daily use of 50 litres. The units can also be disassembled and redeployed in different locations as needs evolve.
Speaking about the recognition, Rhett Butler, Chairman and Founder of the SkyJuice Foundation, emphasised the importance of equitable access to water.
“We need decentralised, sustainable solutions that can be owned and operated by poor communities. Whether serving displaced populations or those in remote regions, providing safe drinking water is a key step toward equality. This award validates our work and introduces us to new partners who share our mission.”
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award continues to support innovations that contribute to SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation — a goal critical for health, sustainability, and human dignity worldwide.
With growing climate-related crises and global displacement, technologies like SkyHydrant represent an essential part of the humanitarian toolkit.
