Water Week will be introduced to the international water community at SIWI World Water Week in Stockholm on 26 August, bringing together voices from across water, education, science, engineering, storytelling and public participation.
The 90-minute session, Building the Social Infrastructure for Water Security, will explore a simple but important proposition: securing our water future depends not only on investment in infrastructure, technology and policy, but also on investing in people.
Around the world, growing pressures from climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss and increasing demand are placing greater strain on water systems. Alongside investment in engineering and innovation, long-term water resilience also depends on an informed, engaged and empowered society – people who understand water, value it and are equipped to participate in protecting it.
Water Week has been developed to help build this social infrastructure for water security, connecting education, storytelling, science and civic participation with the organisations, expertise and investment already working to secure our water future.
Hosted by environmental journalist and broadcaster Roger Harrabin, the Stockholm session will bring together an intentionally diverse mix of contributors, including young water professionals, youth voices and representatives from industry, NGOs, education, communications and behaviour change.
Through film, storytelling and intergenerational conversation, the session will explore how science, engineering, education, culture, communications and public participation can work together to strengthen water literacy, encourage positive action and inspire a new generation of water stewards, innovators and professionals.
Water Week is being developed in support of the ambitions of the UN Water Action Decade as a collaborative movement connecting governments, businesses, educators, researchers, water professionals, NGOs, communities and young people. Beginning with a UK Blueprint across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the programme will test an approach combining education, storytelling, citizen science, behaviour change and coordinated civic participation, creating evidence and learning that can ultimately be adapted by partners and countries around the world.
Introducing My Water Story
The Stockholm session will also introduce My Water Story, the storytelling heart of Water Week.
Built around the idea that every person has a water story, the initiative will create a growing global collection of short personal stories exploring what water means to people and the role it plays in their lives, communities, cultures and work.
At its heart is a simple one-minute format – one person, one place, one story and one message – inviting people from every generation, background and sector to answer one question: What does water mean to you? Together, these stories will help make water more personal and relatable while creating a lasting resource for education and public engagement.
Join us at World Water Week
Building the Social Infrastructure for Water Security
Wednesday 26 August 2026 | 11:00–12:30
A2, Level 6 | SIWI World Water Week, Stockholm
If you are attending World Water Week, we would be delighted to welcome you to the session.
Speaker and contributor details will be updated as the programme is confirmed.
Join Water Week
Water Week is being built through collaboration. We are inviting organisations and individuals from across water, education, science, engineering, government, business, civil society, media and the creative industries to contribute their expertise, ideas, stories and networks as the movement develops.
Join Water Week and help build a generation that understands, values and protects water.
