This Is What Happened At World Water Week In Stockholm

So, I just came back from World Water Week in Stockholm.

WWW is an annual event organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute, usually held in late August or early September. It brings together key people from governments, universities, businesses, and NGOs to collaborate on fixing the world’s urgent water problems.

The theme for 2024 was ‘Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future,’ underscoring the crucial role of water cooperation in fostering global peace and security.

Things kicked off on August 26 with an opening ceremony, during which speakers mentioned significant occurrences like the Stockholm Water Prize and Stockholm Junior Water Prize, both set to be awarded later in the week.

From the outset, emphasis was placed on the importance of involving Indigenous Peoples in the decision-making processes related to water management in their communities.

Over five days, thousands of participants attended seminars in-person and online focused on water-related challenges in the Global North and South. World Water Week “has always been an arena where experts from different backgrounds come together to talk about water in a casual and informal setting,” says Andreas Karlsson, director of communications at the Stockholm International Water Institute.

The forum “provides a safe space where you can meet your colleagues, speak your mind, and offer contrasting viewpoints on ways to tackle the water challenges we face today,” adds Karlsson.

SIWI wrapped up World Water Week with a closing ceremony on August 29, leaving delegates with valuable insights and connections to advance the agenda on water scarcity, pollution, climate resilience, and equitable access for all.

Now, let’s go over some of the highlights of what transpired.

Stockholm Water Prize

The Stockholm Water Prize, dubbed the “Nobel Prize in Water,” is awarded annually to individuals and organizations for outstanding contributions within the water sector. Presented by the King of Sweden during a royal banquet at WWW, this glass trophy recognizes groundbreaking work in conserving and managing water resources worldwide.

On August 28, Japanese hydrologist Professor Taikan Oki received the 2024 SWP for his research in developing models that simulate the global water cycle. Experts have found that his work has dramatically improved the understanding of how water moves across the planet.

Oki “is a wonderful selection for the Stockholm Water Prize,” says Professor Andrea Rinaldo, head of EPFL’s Laboratory of Ecohydrology and the previous award winner.

“His contributions to hydrology and the hydrology community are major,” adds Rinaldo.

Reflecting on his journey, Professor Oki, who teaches in the civil engineering department at the University of Tokyo, says, “I feel nostalgic looking back at my work on water over the past few decades.”

“I’m always searching for new ways to contribute to society through my research, and I will continue to do so, even after winning this prize,” adds Oki.

Just a heads-up: if you know anyone who qualifies, nominations for the 2025 Stockholm Water Prize are open until the end of September.

Stockholm Junior Water Prize

The Stockholm Junior Water Prize is a competition celebrating original solutions to global water challenges from youth aged 15 to 20. Each year, awards are given in three categories: the SJWP, the Diploma of Excellence, and the People’s Choice Award.

The awards ceremony on 27 August was spirited, with hundreds of attendees and live performances by singers and musicians. Then, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, dressed in ocean blue, presented the prizes to the young winners of the three categories.

For 2024, the SJWP was awarded to Christopher Whitfeld and Wenqi (Jonathan) Zhao from the United Kingdom for their project on reducing PFAS pollution in the Thames, a river that flows through southern England, including London.

These Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances are harmful, long-lasting chemicals that can lead to serious health problems such as cancer when exposed.

Whitfeld and Zhao, students at the UK’s Eton College, developed a geospatial neural network to predict PFAS levels. They also created a cost-effective filtration system to remove these hazardous chemicals from water.

Next, the Diploma of Excellence was awarded to Shanni Valeria Mora Fajardo and Rosa Mendoza Sosa from Mexico for their project, which involved reusing inked water through homemade filtration systems to grow vegetable gardens.

This initiative promotes sustainable water management in Teotitlán del Valle, a village near Oaxaca city in Mexico. The town, known for its traditional textiles and Zapotec heritage, faces water shortages, which inspired the young women to pursue the project.

Finally, the People’s Choice Award was presented to Manoel José Nunes Neto from Brazil for his work on designing an aquatic rover. This autonomous, low-cost vehicle is intended to monitor water quality in freshwater ecosystems.

Nunes Neto’s motivation stemmed from the necessity to address water pollution affecting the Yanomami tribes in the Amazon rainforest. His project aims to offer a practical solution for tracking and alleviating environmental damage in vulnerable areas.

“It is so inspiring to work with these wonderful finalists who could be tomorrow’s leading scientists—and we know from experience that their innovations can solve real-world problems,” says Ania Andersch, senior manager at the Stockholm International Water Institute.

“Many projects that started as part of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize are now being used, helping thousands of people in different parts of the world,” adds Andersch.

The Big Fish

This year’s World Water Week convened top experts from the water community, including representatives from the UN Environment Programme, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, Oxford University, the World Bank, various governments, and the private sector, to discuss strategies for tackling the global water crisis.

For example, on August 28, Amazon, the technology conglomerate, made headlines by announcing an extension of its water conservation plans. The projects are intended to restore water-stressed ecosystems, improve access to clean water, and promote sustainable water management in regions such as Brazil, Chile, China, and the United States.

In 2022, Amazon Web Services (AWS) committed to achieving water positivity by 2030, which means the company aims to replenish more water to communities and the environment than it utilizes in its direct operations within the next six years.

According to its managers, AWS is dedicated to restoring freshwater ecosystems in regions affected by deforestation and illegal mining, such as the Amazon Rainforest. This initiative is part of Amazon’s broader environmental goals to reduce water usage and positively contribute to global water sustainability efforts.

“At World Water Week, one of our biggest goals was to be a good water steward leader by sharing the lessons we learned with attendees so that we could create an even bigger impact,” says Will Hewes, water principal at Amazon.

“I think we accomplished this goal but at the same time, the work is never done- we are excited as ever about continuing to make progress toward our water goals and helping others along the way as well,” adds Hewes.

You can learn more about Amazon’s water programs here.

What Happens In Stockholm …

For almost 20 years, World Water Week has included an anticipated evening of networking and socializing hosted by Doctor Josh Newton, founder of Josh’s Water Jobs, a leading platform that connects talent with career opportunities within the water sector.

This year’s party was held on August 28 at a trendy warehouse-style venue with live music. The relaxed atmosphere allowed guests to reconnect with colleagues and unwind after a busy day.

“Straight up, it makes me feel joy—there is nothing that makes me happier than bringing everyone together for an event that they leave feeling energized and happy,” says Newton.

“The icing on the cake is that people have walked away from these nights with jobs, funding opportunities, and lifelong friends- if I didn’t accomplish anything else working on water issues, I’d still be very happy with the impact I’ve had through these gatherings,” Newton adds.

Though, the night took an unexpected turn when, while chatting with some guests, I learned that the future of WWW might be at risk. Upon further investigation, I found local reports alleging that the organizers SIWI, may be facing staff cuts, which could impact the planning and running of next events.

What we are hearing “is disorienting because World Water Week has been a center of gravity for the international water community for over three decades,” says Newton.

“The event’s contributions to water policy development, raising the political profile of water, sharing best practices, career development, and fostering a sense of community among water professionals worldwide are second to none,” he adds.

Borrowing from this sentiment, I hope to return to Stockholm, reporting a 2025 WWW in full swing.