American microbiologist wins Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize for work to measure risk of drinking water

American microbiologist Joan Bray Rose has been awarded the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize for her pioneering work in measuring and managing the risk of drinking water contamination. The 72-year-old scientist was recognized for developing quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA), a groundbreaking method that evaluates the safety of water reuse systems, including Singapore’s NEWater. The award, which includes a certificate, gold medallion, and $300,000 prize, will be presented during the Singapore International Water Week 2026 by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong. Professor Rose rose to prominence in the late 1980s after leading investigations into Cryptosporidium, a microscopic parasite responsible for major waterborne disease outbreaks, notably the 1993 Milwaukee incident that caused over 400,000 illnesses and 69 deaths. Her research was the first to link the parasite to contaminated drinking water, highlighting the limitations of existing water safety tests that failed to detect non-bacterial pathogens before consumption. To address this, she and her team developed QMRA, which assesses microbial concentrations, exposure routes, and pathogen potency to estimate health risks more accurately. Her work has had a profound global impact, providing policymakers with a scientific framework to define, regulate, and manage water safety standards. This approach has bolstered confidence in the use of recycled water as a sustainable resource, supporting water security efforts worldwide. Over her four-decade career, Professor Rose has authored more than 300 scientific publications and currently holds the Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research at Michigan State University, where she directs the Water Alliance. Singapore has benefited from Professor Rose’s expertise for over 20 years, particularly in evaluating the safety of NEWater, the city-state’s highly treated recycled water. Her contributions have been instrumental in shaping water management policies that ensure safe drinking water access globally. Previously, she received the Stockholm Water Prize in 2016 and the International Water Association Global Water Award in 2024, underscoring her enduring influence in the field of water science.