Hello Readers!
In today’s blog we will talk about World Water Week 2021. Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) organizes this event every year on water and development related issues. This year it is celebrated virtually between 23-27 August 2021.
Further in the blog we will discuss what is the aim of world water week, its significance, theme and other key facts related to it. Read our blog to know all about this important event.
World Water Week
- The World Water Week is an annual event organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) since 1991 with the goal of addressing global water issues and related international development concerns. The week-long event attracts around 4000 participants from more than 135 countries.
- The World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden was started as the Stockholm Water Symposium in 1991.
- In 2001, the Stockholm Water Symposium was officially renamed as the World Water Week in Stockholm.
Theme 2021
The theme of World Water Week 2021 is Building Resilience Faster. It will focus on identifying concrete solutions to the world’s greatest water-related challenges, including the climate crisis, water scarcity, food security, health, biodiversity, and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Stockholm Water Prize
About
Stockholm Water Prize is the world’s most prestigious water award. It is given to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to water-related activities. The Stockholm Water Prize Laureate is announced each March 22 at the United Nations World Day for Water and honoured each August during World Water Week in Stockholm at a Royal Prize Ceremony and Banquet in the Stockholm City Hall. The Stockholm Water Prize Laureate receives a specially designed sculpture as well as 1 million Swedish Krona (SEK).
First Winner
Professor David W. Schindler, a Canadian ecologist, was the first recipient of the Stockholm Water Prize in 1991, for significant contributions to our understanding of the effects of organic pollutants and climate warming in lakes.
Stockholm Water Prize 2021
Sandra Postel, founding director of the Global Water Policy Project, has been named Stockholm Water Prize Laureate 2021 for her work towards changing the people’s view on water.
Other Awards
Stockholm Junior Water Prize 2021
It is an international competition where students between the ages of 15 and 20 present solutions to major water challenges. Eshani Jha from the U.S. received the 2021 Stockholm Junior Water Prize for research on how to remove contaminants from water.
A Diploma of Excellence
Thanawit Namjaidee and Future Kongchu from Thailand was awarded for developing a way to use organic waste material for moisture retention, thereby accelerating plant growth.
People’s Choice Award
Gabriel Fernandes Mello Ferreira (Brazil) won the 2021 Stockholm Junior Water Prize – People’s Choice Award for the development of microplastic retention mechanisms in water treatment plants.
India’s Participation
Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, DG, NMCG, attended the WWWeek session
During the first day of Stockholm’s World Water Week 2021, Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, Director General of National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), participated as a key panellist in the session on ‘Making Cities Water Positive Through City Water Balance Plan’ (23rd August).
The Safe Water Network, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the World Resources Institute (WRI) India co-hosted the session.
During the session, the “Making Cities Water Positive through City Water Balance Plan e-Toolkit,” which includes 7 modules and 29 tools to assist decision-makers in developing and implementing solutions to make cities water positive, was launched.
Surat Municipal Corporation – The only civic body to be invited from India
Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) was India’s only civic body invited to the panel discussion on “Zero Liquid Discharge Cities.” The Diamond City’s achievement in treating sewage water and reusing it has been recognised by the world’s top water governance institute.
The city treats approximately 1,400 MLD (megalitres per day) of sewage water, of which 320 MLD, that is around 33%, is reused. In addition to expanding its fleet of sewage treatment plants, the SMC has begun reusing treated water.
Surat received the Water+ certification as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission recently (SBM). The Diamond City was the first city in the state to receive the award from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA) for implementing best practises in waste water management.
Only cities that had been designated as ODF++ (open defecation free) were eligible for this certification.
The basic parameter for Water+ status is satisfactory treatment of waste water from households, commercial establishments, drains, and nullahs before it is released into water bodies.
About SIWI
The Stockholm International Water Institute, SIWI, is a world leader in water governance, resilience, water diplomacy, and resource cooperation. It works all over the world to assist countries, cities, and businesses in finding smarter ways to manage and use water.
Executive Director: Torgny Holmgren.
Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden
Stay tuned with hranker.com for more such content.
Also Check Rivers of India
