World Water Week is the Stockholm International Water Institute's annual event in Stockholm, Sweden with the goal to tackle global water issues.

Two really exciting things that occur during World Water Week are the award ceremonies for the Stockholm Water Prize and the Stockholm Junior Water Prize. The winners are Professor Stephen McCaffrey (Stockholm Water Prize winner) and Rachel Chang and Ryan Thorpe (Stockholm Junior Water Prize winners).

Here is information on why these individuals won these prestigious and sought-after awards, according to press releases distributed by the Stockholm International Water Institute:
"Stephen McCaffrey, Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, in Sacramento, California, is the single most respected authority on 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."

"The students (Rachel Chang and Ryan Thorpe) constructed a system that detects and purifies water contaminated with Shigella, E. coli, Salmonella, and Cholera more rapidly and sensitively than conventional methods. Their system detects as little as one reproductive bacteria colony per litre instantaneously and eliminates bacterial presence in approximately ten seconds. In contrast, conventional methods have detection limits of up to 1000 colonies and take one to two days."

It's inspiring the dedication these individuals and the many, many water professionals around the globe demonstrate to find solutions to ensure access to safe and clean water.