IWA Awards

Inspiring Change through Innovation & Leadership

IWA is committed to recognising the special contributions and achievements of its members and water sector professionals, and the invaluable contribution they make to key innovations in water science and management. 

The IWA Awards recognise the broad range of excellence, leadership and innovation, which IWA members and network participants bring to both our Association, and the industry at large, and exist to encourage the continued role of innovation in contributing to the sustainable management of water. As such they are an important element of IWAs theory of change articulated in our Strategic Plan.

IWA Awards aim to become a vehicle through which IWA encourages and rewards innovation and sets international benchmarks for innovative thinking, and application of solutions for wise water management and practice.

2022 IWA Awards

The 2022 IWA Awards have been presented at the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition, 11-15 September 2022, in Copenhagen, Denmark. For more information on the winners, criteria, eligibility and more, click on the individual award pages.

2021 Awards at the Digital World Water Congress

The winners of the IWA Awards 2021 were announced on 24 May 2021 during the opening ceremony of the Digital World Water Congress. The awards, held every two years, recognise the outstanding achievements of IWA members and water sector professionals. Additionally, the winners of the IWA Membership Awards have been announced by IWA President Tom Mollenkopf, during a plenary session on Tuesday 1 June to mark the beginning of the second week of the Digital World Water Congress.

Watch the Awards ceremony at the IWA Digital World Water Congress 2021

In this video:

Global Water Award – Marcos von Sperling

Women in Water Award – Nafisa Barot

Professional Development Award – Indah Water Konsortium

Young Leadership Award – Siddhartha Roy

Membership Awards 2021

This award recognises outstanding and sustained contributions of members in relation to the water sector and the Association. Two exceptional individuals won this recognition at the Digital Congress: Prof Jiri Wanner, from the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague, Czech Republic, and Prof Mark van Loosdrecht from Delft University of Technology, in the Netherlands.

Latest Updates

March 2, 2023
Call for Nominations is open until 30 April 2023 The IWA Specialist Group on Microbial Ecology and Water Engineering (MEWE) is now calling for nominations for ...
October 12, 2022
The application of Digital Twins in the global water industry is a hot topic and I’m encouraged that the benefits of these innovative tools are being more wid...
September 14, 2022
Aging water infrastructure is an issue for many cities, and when coupled with the impacts of climate change and tight budget allocations to facilitate upgrades,...
September 14, 2022
Logan Water has pioneered an Australian and most likely a world first; a facility which transforms biosolids into renewable energy and a sustainable product cal...
September 13, 2022
13th IWA Project Innovation Awards 18 Winners in six Award Categories Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant wins Grand Innovation Award   Copenhagen, Denma...
September 13, 2022
Lake Erhai is the seventh largest freshwater lake in China attracting many visitors worldwide. However, the water quality has significantly deteriorated through...
September 13, 2022
IWA is pleased to announce that the winner of the prestigious IWA Global Water Award 2022 is Mrs Nisha Mandani, of Our Aim Foundation, based in the USA. The pri...
September 12, 2022
With the 2022 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition coming to an end, IWA is pleased to announce the winners of the 2022 IWA Awards. The Awards ceremony too...