Categories | Global Sustainability & Innovation Awards 2027

Individuals & Startups

Lifetime Achievement in Water Sustainability A career of measurable contribution to the sector Enquire about this

Young Researcher of the Year (below 35) Published, applied research with real-world use Enquire about this

Woman of the Year, Water Sector Leadership or research that moved the sector forward Enquire about this

Grassroot Innovator of the Year Low-cost, field-proven innovation from the ground up Enquire about this

Startup of the Year, Water Tech Traction, technology and a path to scale Enquire about this

Water Security Field Leadership On-ground delivery in difficult conditions Enquire about this

Industry & Corporate

Zero Liquid Discharge Initiative A working ZLD system with recovery and cost data Enquire about this

Effluent Treatment Plant of the Year Compliance record, uptime and treated water quality Enquire about this

Water Reuse & Resource Recovery Project Volumes reused and resources recovered, with numbers Enquire about this

Circular Economy in Water & Wastewater Closed loops that changed the economics Enquire about this

Corporate Water Stewardship Company-wide water strategy with audited results Enquire about this

Water Positive Organisation of the Year Verified water balance beyond own consumption, open to companies and institutions Enquire about this

Technology & Innovation

Desalination Technology Energy, recovery and brine performance data Enquire about this

AI, IoT & Digital Water Deployed digital systems with measured outcomes Enquire about this

Water Treatment Technology Domestic or industrial treatment with proven results Enquire about this

Smart Metering & Leak Detection Losses found, losses fixed, revenue recovered Enquire about this

Filtration & Separation Technology Membrane or non-membrane, performance-proven Enquire about this

Wastewater Treatment Equipment Engineering quality and field reliability Enquire about this

Climate-Resilient Water Infrastructure Systems built to perform under climate stress Enquire about this

Groundwater Compliance & Advisory Compliance outcomes delivered for clients Enquire about this

Utilities & Public Sector

Smart City Water Initiative City-scale water programme with measured results Enquire about this

Drinking Water Utility, Municipal Coverage, quality and continuity of supply Enquire about this

Drinking Water Utility, Nagar Panchayat Small-town supply done well Enquire about this

Wastewater Utility, Municipal Collection, treatment and reuse performance Enquire about this

Wastewater Utility, Nagar Panchayat Small-town wastewater management Enquire about this

Sanitation Programme of the Year Coverage and behaviour change with evidence Enquire about this

Water-Energy Nexus, Public Sector Integrated water, wastewater and energy delivery Enquire about this

Community, Awareness & Rural Water

Rainwater Harvesting, Corporate Captured volumes and recharge data Enquire about this

Rainwater Harvesting, Institution Government or education campus programmes Enquire about this

Rural Drinking Water Systems Sustainable supply for rural communities Enquire about this

Water Awareness Campaign Reach and measurable behaviour change Enquire about this

Public-Private Partnership in Water Partnerships that delivered at scale Enquire about this

NGO Water Initiative of the Year Community outcomes with verified impact Enquire about this

Environment & Waste Management

Solid Waste Management for Water Safety Solid waste systems protecting water bodies Enquire about this

Liquid Waste & Effluent Management Collection and treatment of liquid waste streams Enquire about this

Sludge Treatment & Resource Recovery Sludge to value: energy, nutrients, materials Enquire about this

Faecal Sludge & Septage Management FSSM systems serving unsewered areas Enquire about this

Plastic Waste Solutions for Water Systems Keeping plastics out of water infrastructure Enquire about this

Environmental Sustainability Initiative Environment programmes with audited outcomes Enquire about this

Products & Consumer Water

Domestic Water Purification RO, non-RO and smart purification products Enquire about this

Commercial & Institutional Drinking Water Systems Packaged and point-of-use systems at scale Enquire about this

Water Softening Solutions Domestic, commercial and industrial softening Enquire about this

Membrane Products Membrane performance and lifecycle data Enquire about this

Pumps & Electro-Mechanical Systems Energy efficiency and lifecycle performance Enquire about this

Water Storage Systems Polymer, steel, modular and smart storage Enquire about this

Water Treatment Chemicals Effective, green and safe chemistry Enquire about this

Instrumentation & Monitoring Measurement that improves operations Enquire about this

Workplace & People

Best Place to Work with Sustainability Goals public vote + jury Decided by public vote combined with independent jury scoring Enquire about this