What is Water Week?

World Water Week is the leading global conference on water, held annually in Stockholm and convened by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI). It brings together scientists, policymakers, businesses, and civil society to exchange knowledge and shape solutions to the world’s most pressing water challenges. More than just a technical forum, Water Week acts as a catalyst for global action by linking water security with climate resilience, sustainable cities, food systems, and equity. In 2025, the theme “Water for Climate Action” highlights how managing water wisely is not only essential for survival but also central to mitigating emissions, adapting to climate risks, and creating inclusive urban futures.

Introduction: Water at the Heart of Climate Change

As climate change accelerates, water is both a frontline casualty and a critical solution. Melting glaciers, rising seas, erratic rainfall, and prolonged droughts are transforming how water moves through our cities—whether through pipes, drains, aquifers, or rivers. These shifts expose deep vulnerabilities: shortages, contamination, infrastructure failures, and unequal access. From Flint to Cape Town, Mumbai to Delhi, cities are experiencing crises that go beyond scarcity—they reflect systemic governance gaps and fragile infrastructures. The 2025 theme for World Water Week, “Water for Climate Action”, could not be timelier. Water is not just another sectoral challenge; it is the very medium through which climate-linked emergencies are most acutely felt. At the same time, it is central to building resilience—through nature-based solutions, inclusive governance, and adaptive urban planning.

Urban India’s Water Crunch: A Brewing Storm

By 2047, more than half of India’s 1.4 billion people will live in cities. Even today, five of the world’s 20 most water-stressed cities are in India—Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. The demand-supply gap is projected to hit 500 billion litres daily by 2030, threatening to erode up to 6% of India’s GDP by 2050.

One of the biggest hidden threats is Non-Revenue Water (NRW)—treated water that never reaches consumers due to leaks, theft, or faulty metering. India’s urban utilities lose 38% of potable water to NRW, nearly double the global benchmark.

• Delhi tops the list with a shocking 58% NRW, losing more than 2,400 MLD every day.
• Mumbai, despite having one of the country’s best systems, still loses 30% of its supply—over 1,100 MLD daily.
• Chennai faces a demand-supply gap of 1,200 MLD, with NRW pegged at 30%.

Globally, NRW losses amount to 346 trillion litres daily, enough to serve 800 million people at WHO standards. For the climate, this is not just wasted water—it’s wasted energy and higher greenhouse gas emissions from pumping and treatment.

Governance Gaps and Climate Costs

Why is NRW so stubbornly high in the Global South? Much of the answer lies in aging infrastructure, fragmented institutions, and weak governance. Crumbling pipes in Hyderabad or South Mumbai, lack of universal water meters, and unmonitored illegal connections all point to systemic failures.

Every litre lost is also a climate cost:

• Leaky pipes invite contamination from sewage, raising health risks.
• Wastage forces cities to build dams, desalination plants, and tanker systems—expensive, carbon-intensive, and often socially unjust.
• Over-extraction of groundwater accelerates aquifer depletion and land subsidence.

NRW is the “invisible climate cost”—silently undermining both water security and climate goals.

Coastal Cities and the Blue Economy: Double-Edged Waters

Across the world’s coastlines, water is shaping both opportunity and peril. Coastal cities such as Mumbai, Jakarta, Chennai, and Cartagena sit at the intersection of climate risk and the “blue economy” (economic activities tied to oceans, rivers, and coasts).

Challenges include:

• Saltwater intrusion into aquifers.
• Flooding and storm surges from rising seas.
• Unequal vulnerability: informal settlements on low-lying coastlines often have the weakest access to safe water and sanitation.

But water is also the foundation of opportunity. Wetlands, mangroves, and estuaries protect against floods, sustain fisheries, and anchor small-scale economies. In India, Mumbai’s Koliwada fishing communities are pushing for recognition in coastal zoning—showing how inclusive governance can align resilience with livelihoods.

Best Practices: Proof That Change Is Possible

Success stories show that reform is possible when governance, technology, and community align:

• Dhaka, Bangladesh: Reduced NRW from 40% to just 5% in two decades through universal metering and community inclusion.
• Manila, Philippines: Cut NRW from 63% to 12.6% by 2022 with smart reforms and public–private partnerships.
• Jamshedpur, India (JUSCO): Achieved a reduction from 36% to 10%, proving Indian cities can deliver global benchmarks.

These cases underline the power of district metered areas (DMAs), smart water meters, and transparent digital dashboards. But most importantly, they highlight citizen trust and accountability as essential to long-term reform.

Pathways for Climate-Resilient Cities

For cities to truly embrace “Water for Climate Action”, several priorities stand out:

1. Plug the Leaks First

• Make NRW reduction a frontline climate strategy.
• Invest in universal metering, SCADA systems, and real-time monitoring.

2. Integrate Water into Urban Planning

• Embed water-sensitive design in housing, transport, and infrastructure projects.
• Protect wetlands, lakes, and aquifers as part of urban expansion.

3. Inclusive Governance

• Give marginalised communities—slum dwellers, fisherfolk, small vendors—a seat at the table.
• Build participatory water governance platforms that foster trust and accountability.

4. Finance and Partnerships

• Unlock climate finance from the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund for urban water projects.
• Encourage PPPs where utilities lack capacity but must deliver fast results.

5. Nature-Based Solutions

• Restore mangroves, rivers, and lakes for flood protection and groundwater recharge.
• Blend infrastructure with ecosystems to create multi-benefit outcomes.

Conclusion: From Pledges to Practice

The water crisis is no longer a distant future—it is here, flowing through every pipe, drain, and aquifer. Cities of the Global South cannot afford NRW losses, weak governance, or exclusionary policies any longer. Water must move from being seen as just a “resource” to being recognised as the very medium of resilience, equity, and climate action. World Water Week 2025 is a reminder: the most climate-smart move a city can make is to fix its water system—from plugging leaks to protecting coastlines. The pathway to climate-resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban futures begins not with grand pledges, but with practical action in every drop.