From Indicators to Action: What I Learned at World Water Week 

I am driven by the belief that everyone should be able to depend on clean, reliable water, whether for recreation or something as fundamental as turning on the tap. Through my work I have seen how making water data transparent and usable can reveal inequities that might remain hidden and inform decision-making. I have learned from agricultural producers, water and land use professionals, and community leaders that understanding and addressing a problem takes more than data alone. It takes practical knowledge, diverse perspectives, and collaboration. 

These experiences keep me asking: Who can depend on clean water and accessible reliable supply? Who faces the greatest risks when conditions change? How do we turn what we know about water into decisions that improve people’s lives? 

For eight months leading up to World Water Week 2026, I explored those questions as a member of the Young Scientific Programme Committee (YSPC). Working with my fellow committee members and coconvenors, ASU WISE, UNICEF, and IRC/RIVA, I helped develop the “Equity in Water: Indicators to Implementation” three-part session seminar series. When we gathered in Stockholm, we set out to explore what water equity means, how to measure it, and what it takes to put it into practice. 

From Indicators to Implementation 

Our three-part seminar series asked participants to consider: How can we move from talking about water equity to making decisions that advance it? We began by considering equity through human rights, science, and governance. Together, those perspectives show that equitable water management means protecting basic needs, recognizing that water resources and risks are unevenly distributed, and giving affected communities a voice in how water is managed.  

We then looked at how to measure progress. At that point, I was struck by how many indicators already exist, from scientific measures of water availability to the physical and emotional experiences of water insecurity. Existing indicators tell us about access to services, water availability, governance, financing, and people’s experiences of water insecurity. But they do not always show whether water is affordable or reliable, or reveal which communities face the greatest burdens. More detailed, accessible data can help identify those gaps and guide resources toward them. 

The final session focused on putting that knowledge to work. Participants called for community and Indigenous knowledge to help shape and inform decisions, so that actions reflect local priorities and are informed by the experience of those who will carry them further. They also emphasized greater transparency about who benefits from water investments, and clearer ways to hold institutions accountable for their commitments.

The learnings from this series reinforced something I will carry into my work: Data can help communities see where water risks and inequities lie, but planning becomes more useful when the people affected help interpret that evidence and shape the response and action.

Bringing More Voices Into the Conversation 

Beyond the seminar series, serving on the YSPC provided me opportunities to bring my own perspectives as a young water professional into conversations at World Water Week. 

I participated in the Young Water Professionals Debate, arguing in favor of the motion “Equitable access to water today is essential to securing progress for future generations.” I opened our side of the case by tracing how water has supported food production, public health, and the growth of cities throughout history. But I argued that access to water has never been automatic or equal. Who receives safe, reliable, and affordable water has often depended on wealth, geography, and political power. Equitable access means addressing those barriers so that more people can benefit from the foundation water provides. When we plan for future water needs, we must ask whose needs are being measured, who has a voice in decisions, and who will benefit from the action we pursue. The debate challenged me to make the case that addressing equity challenges today is essential to building a future in which more people can thrive.  

Taking part in this debate was a highlight of my World Water Week experience. I am grateful to have shared the stage with young water professionals from South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States, representing organizations including the UK Environment Agency, the Economist, and the International Water Management Institute. Speaking to an international audience of experienced water professionals from diverse sectors challenged me to think deeply about water equity in the past, present, and future, and to articulate those ideas on my feet in a fast-paced exchange. I left that session with greater confidence, new connections, and a lasting appreciation for the opportunity to contribute to this global conversation. 

The thought-provoking questions and conversations continued at a YSPC lunch panel, where I was asked, “What do we need to understand differently when we talk about water for people and progress?” My response drew from my experience working directly with communities through my role at the Lincoln Institute. Some of the most useful and inspiring conversations I have been part of bring farmers, utility managers, Indigenous leaders, and other community members together to codesign strategies that address shared challenges such as water scarcity, resilience, and management. Community members’ knowledge of how decisions play out in daily life is essential to developing strategies that work. I called for conferences like World Water Week to make more room for young professionals and the people doing the work directly in their communities. If we want to talk about water for people, those closest to the challenges need to be part of the conversation. Their experience and participation are essential to turning ideas into progress. 

Serving on the YSPC provided me the opportunity to share my perspective as a young water professional on an international stage and collaborate with people I may have otherwise never met. I left World Water Week with new relationships and a deeper understanding of how water equity can be defined, measured, and put into practice. I hope to carry those lessons into my work by using evidence to make inequities visible, listening to the people most affected, and helping communities translate knowledge into practical steps toward cleaner, more reliable, and more accessible water.  

Anna Singer is a policy analyst for land and water program implementation at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.

Lead image: Anna Singer speaking during the Young Water Professionals Debate at World Water Week in Stockholm. Courtesy of Anna Singer.