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Stockholm Water Prize Laureates

Over the years, the Stockholm Water Prize Laureates have represented a broad range of water-related activities, professions, and scientific disciplines from around the world

Laureates

Their groundbreaking scientific discoveries and innovative solutions have changed how we understand and use water. Learn more about them.

Prof Oki, University of Japan — no caption

2024

Professor Taikan Oki, Japan

A world-renowned researcher in hydrology, Prof. Oki's work has contributed to more sustainable management of water on a global scale, through more realistic and practical climate adaptation measures, the inclusion of human activity in the water cycle, and a more accurate depiction of the world’s river flows.

Man in suite standing a room with book cases — no caption

2023

Professor Andrea Rinaldo, Italy

The world-renowned hydrologist Andrea Rinaldo was awarded for his ground-breaking research on river networks, demonstrating their significance in the spread of solutes, aquatic species, and diseases.

2022

Professor Emeritus Wilfried Brutsaert, Belgium

Professor Brutsaert's innovative approach has helped improve climate modeling and tools that assess how much water that is available.

2021

Sandra Postel, USA

Sandra Postel's groundbreaking work has changed how many people view water. She was one of the first to warn of a global water crisis and to call for the conservation of water-based ecosystems. Today, she inspires decision-makers to find new solutions to water scarcity, climate change and biodiversity loss.

2020

Dr John Cherry, Canada

Dr John Cherry's discoveries have revolutionized our understanding of groundwater vulnerability. His research has raised awareness of how groundwater contamination is growing across the world and has led to new, more efficient methods to tackle the problem.

2019

Dr Jackie King, South Africa

Dr Jackie King’s game-changing contributions to global river management have advanced the scientific understanding of water flows. Her work has given decision-makers methods and tools to assess the full range of costs and benefits when managing or developing river systems.

Professors Bruce Rittmann, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, USA and Mark van Loosdrecht, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands - Stockholm Water Prize 2018 — no caption

2018

Professors Bruce Rittmann, USA / Mark van Loosdrecht, The Netherlands

By revolutionizing microbiological-based technologies in water and wastewater treatment, Professors Bruce Rittmann and Mark van Loosdrecht have demonstrated the possibilities to remove harmful contaminants from water, cut wastewater treatment costs, reduce energy consumption, and even recover chemicals and nutrients for recycling.

2017

Professor Stephen McCaffrey, USA

Professor Stephen McCaffrey made unparalleled contribution to the evolution and progressive realization of international water law. His work continues to influence scholars, legal practitioners and policy-makers and contribute to the sustainable and peaceful management of shared waters.

2016

Professor Joan Rose, USA

In assessing risks to human health in water and creating guidelines and tools for decision-makers and communities to improve global health, Professor Rose made tireless contributions to global public health.

2015

Mr. Shri Rajendra Singh, India

His innovative water restoration efforts have improved water security in rural India. He is also recognized for showing extraordinary courage and determination in his quest to improve the living conditions for those most in need.

2014

Professor John Briscoe, South Africa

Professor Briscoe made unparalleled contributions to global and local water management, inspired by an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of people on the ground.

2013

Dr. Peter Morgan, Zimbabwe

Over the past four decades, Dr. Morgan has invented and advanced low-cost practical solutions to provide access to safe sanitation and clean water that are being used by millions of people worldwide.

IWMI group photo - Stockholm Water Prize 2013 — no caption

2012

The International Water Management Institute, Sri Lanka

The Institute has been recognized for their pioneering research that has served to improve agriculture water management, enhance food security, protect environmental health and alleviate poverty in developing countries.

2011

Professor Stephen R. Carpenter, USA

His ground breaking research has shown how lake ecosystems are affected by the surrounding landscape and by human activities. His findings have formed the basis for concrete solutions on how to manage lakes.

2010

Dr. Rita Colwell and Johns Hopkins, USA

Her pioneering research on the prevention of waterborne infectious diseases has helped protect the health and lives of millions. She is widely recognized as one of this century’s most influential voices in science, technology, and policy associated with water and health.

2009

Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, India

As the Founder of the Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, Dr. Pathak is known around the world for his wide ranging work in the sanitation field to improve public health, advance social progress, and improve human rights in India and other countries.

2008

John Anthony Allan, UK

He pioneered the development of key concepts in the understanding and communication of water issues and how they are linked to agriculture, climate change, economics and politics.

2007

Perry L. McCarty, USA

He was recognized for the lifetime of pioneering achievement in the design and operation of water and wastewater systems.

2006

Asit K. Biswas, Mexico

He fostered a new “socio-economic and political climate“ which enabled the effective translation of scientific (both natural and social) and technical advances into meaningful measures.

2005

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), India

CSE’s work, through publications, research and advocacy has helped create new thinking on how traditional systems of water management, which use rainwater endowment, once rejuvenated could become the starting point for the removal of rural poverty in many part of the world.

2004

Sven Erik Jørgensen, Denmark and William J. Mitsch, USA

As educators, authors and speakers, Jørgensen and Mitsch have directly or indirectly influenced and inspired many of the scientists and environmental engineers responsible for lake and wetland protection in all parts of the world.

2003

Peter A. Wilderer, Germany

He has helped design a more sustainable water and sanitation future.

2002

Professor Ignacio Rodríguez-Iturbe

His scientific contributions have had important theoretical and practical meaning for hydrology’s development as an Earth Science.

2001

Professor Takashi Asano

He has been engaged in both theoretical research and practical application in wastewater reclamation, recycling and reuse for over 20 years.

2000

Professor Kader Asmal

He paved the way for a range of water reforms that would benefit the poor black population of South Africa, and not only the rich, mostly white community.

1999

Werner Stumm, Switzerland and James J. Morgan, USA

They studied coagulation as a means of removing particles from water, and their pioneering papers are still widely cited.

1998

Gedeon Dagan, Israel

He has developed mathematical models to describe how groundwater moves through porous materials and transports pollutants and other substances.

1997

Professor Peter S. Eagleson, USA

He exposed the role played by natural selection in the development of the various shapes, features and functions of forests, as well as the role of climate in this process.

1996

Professor Jörg Imberger, Australia

He is an environmental engineer with an interest in how water moves and how substances disperse in stratified bodies of water.

Jon Lane, Water Aid's leader - Stockholm Water Prize 1992 — no caption

1995

Water Aid, UK

The British charity WaterAid provides education in water hygiene for poor people.

1994

Takeshi Kubo, Japan

He devoted almost half a century to answering that question, beginning in the early 1960s as the guiding hand in the planning of wastewater treatment facilities in Japan.

1993

Dr. Madhav Atmaram Chitale, India

He has played a major role in getting India’s decision makers and strategic planners to think of water as a resource whose quality and availability need to be safeguarded.

1992

Department of Environmental Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark

The successes of this department in its various areas of work stemmed from a collective effort, underpinned by a climate of creativity.

1991

Professor David W. Schindler

His research have been instrumental in convincing regulators in the United States and Canada to introduce stricter controls on phosphates and acidifying pollutants such as sulphur dioxide.