Maria Rizzo

Italian inventor and engineer who developed revolutionary water purification systems for developing nations

Maria Rizzo (b. 1985) is an environmental engineer whose innovative water filtration systems have brought clean water to over 2 million people in sub-Saharan Africa. Her 2012 invention, the HydroSolar Cube, combines solar energy with nanotechnology to purify contaminated water at a fraction of traditional costs. This portable system operates without electricity, making it ideal for remote regions.

While studying at Politecnico di Milano, Rizzo founded Aquapure Initiative in 2010, which has since deployed 3,500 filtration units across 15 countries. Her 2018 TED Talk, 'Engineering Hope in Arid Lands', earned her a Rolex Award for Enterprise. Rizzo's 2020 book Clean Water for All details her engineering philosophy and includes blueprints for DIY filtration systems.

In 2021, Rizzo launched the Water Equity Index, a UN-backed tool measuring water access equity. Her team's recent Mobile Desalination Unit provides disaster relief in coastal regions. MIT's Technology Review named her one of 2022's Innovators Under 35. Rizzo's work is featured in the Smithsonian's Water Innovation Gallery and the Geneva-based Global Water Museum.