Getting started for Singapore International Water Week 2026

As one of the world’s premier platforms for sharing and co-creating innovative water solutions, SIWW serves as a critical meeting point for utilities, policy makers, researchers, and technology providers tackling pressing water challenges.

Call for nominations for the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2026

Named after Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize recognises individuals or organisations that have made outstanding contributions to solving global water challenges through innovative technologies, policies, or programmes which benefit humanity.

The Laureate will receive a SGD 300,000 cash prize, a gold medallion, and an award certificate presented at the SIWW2026 award ceremony. The deadline for nominations is Friday, 11 July 2025. Register here.

Spotlight on Dutch expertise

At the 2024 edition of SIWW, Professor Gertjan Medema from the KWR Water Research Institute was honoured with the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2024 for his work in wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE). His work includes the development of methods for detecting waterborne pathogens and the timely adaptation of his research to track SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professor Medema’s early detection of the virus in wastewater in the Netherlands in 2020 was groundbreaking, allowing for public health interventions even before clinical cases were identified. His research has established wastewater-based epidemiology as an invaluable tool for monitoring public health.

In 2012, Professor Mark van Loosdrecht of TU Delft was awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2012 for his breakthrough work on used water treatment, with his completely autotrophic nitrogen removal process – Anammox. The Anammox process has greatly reduced the overall energy consumption, chemical usage and carbon emissions of a conventional used water treatment plant. It came about after the discovery of a unique group of bacteria that removes pollutants in used water while using less oxygen and needing no added organic carbon compared to conventional processes.

By pioneering an innovative biological process that serves as a cost-effective, robust and sustainable way of removing pollutants in used water, Prof. Van Loosdrecht introduced a paradigm shift in the understanding of the used water treatment process. His ground-breaking work in marrying nature and engineering has formed the basis for many variants in use today and this technology is being increasingly adopted worldwide.

Call for papers for Singapore International Water Week 2026 Water Convention

A flagship SIWW event, the Water Convention is scheduled to bring together global experts to exchange knowledge and showcase best practices across the urban water cycle. The deadline for abstract submissions is Friday, 3 October 2025. Submit your abstract here.

Co-organised by PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, and the International Water Association, the 2026 Water Week will focus on the following six themes:

• Water Network
• Water Treatment
• Used Water Management, Reuse and Industrial Water Solutions
• Climate Resilient Cities, Flood Management and Coastal Protection
• Water Quality and One Health
• Nexus & Resource Circularity

The 11th SIWW will be held from 15 to 19 June 2026 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore, and will run alongside the CleanEnviro Summit Singapore organised by Singapore's National Environment Agency.

SIWW is part of the strategic programme of the Singapore Government to grow the water industry and develop water technologies.