Our History - 55 Years of Legacy
The Association’s founding President, Professor Ven Te Chow of the University of Illinois (USA), played a pivotal role in shaping its early direction and laying the foundations for its enduring impact.
over five decades of impact
Established in 1971, the International Water Resources Association (IWRA) has played a leading role in promoting the sustainable management of water resources worldwide. Founded by an international group of experts, the Association was created to strengthen cooperation across disciplines and regions in response to emerging global water challenges.
From its inception, IWRA has provided a neutral, international platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange among researchers, policymakers, practitioners and educators. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, the Association has contributed to advancing water science, informing policy processes, and supporting evidence-based decision-making.
Over time, IWRA has expanded its global presence and engagement. Through its flagship initiatives—including international congresses, regional events, and peer-reviewed publications—the Association has facilitated discussions on key issues such as water security, climate resilience, and equitable access to water resources.
A significant milestone in IWRA’s development has been the continued evolution of its World Water Congress, which convenes stakeholders from across sectors and regions to share knowledge, promote innovation, and strengthen partnerships.
Today, IWRA remains committed to its founding purpose: to advance the understanding and management of water resources for the benefit of societies and ecosystems. In the context of increasing global pressures on water systems, the Association continues to support inclusive dialogue and collective action towards a more water-secure future.
Our Objectives
To advance the planning, development and management
of water resources, as well as to strengthen science, technology, research and education in the water sector.To provide an inclusive, international platform
for dialogue among planners, administrators, managers, scientists, engineers, educators and other stakeholders engaged in water resources.To encourage collaboration and support international programmes
addressing water-related challenges.To promote the dissemination of knowledge and information
on water resources, and to facilitate interdisciplinary exchange through its flagship journal, Water International, and other IWRA publications.
IWRA Key Events and Milestones
1950-60s – Concept of IWRA evolved through informal discussions and contacts among scientists, engineers, administrators, and others concerned with water resources
1971 – IWRA Articles of Incorporation submitted in the State of Wisconsin (USA), following a discussion at the International Conference on Pumped Storage Development and its Environmental Effects in Milwaukee
1972 – First Executive Board with Ven Te Chow as President (until 1980)
1973 – First World Water Congress in Chicago
1975 – First issue of Water International published
1985 – Crystal Drop Award, for laudable contributions to the world’s water situation, first given to UNESCO during V World Water Congress in Brussels
1988 – Ven Te Chow Memorial Award and Lecture first given to Vujica Yevjevich during VI World Water Congress in Ottawa
1994 – The Cairo Statement, proposing the World Water Council, produced at the VIII World Water Congress in Cairo
2007 – Executive Office moved from North America, first to Africa then to Europe
2008 – Taylor & Francis begin publishing Water International
2020 – IWRA holds its first Online Conference on Groundwater and Climate Change
2021 – IWRA transitions to a new membership structure
2021 – IWRA celebrates its 50th anniversary
2024 – 1st Islands Water Congress took place in Faroe Islands
2025 – IWRA celebrates 50 years Water InternationalI 1973 Chicago, USA
Importance and Problems of Water in the Human Environment in Modern Times 24-28 Sept. 1973II 1975 New Delhi, India
Water for Human Needs 12-16 Dec. 1975III 1979 Mexico City, Mexico
Water for Human Survival 23-27 Apr. 1979IV 1982 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Water for Human Consumption: Man and his Environment 5-9 Sept. 1982V 1985 Brussels, Belgium
Water Resources for Rural Areas and their Communities 9-15 Jun. 1985VI 1988 Ottawa, Canada
Water for World Development 29 May – 3 Jun 1988VII 1991 Rabat, Morocco
Water for Sustainable Development in the 21st Century 13 -18 May 1991VIII 1994 Cairo, Egypt
Satisfying Future National and Global Water Demands 13-18 May 1994IX 1997 Montreal, Canada
Water Resources Outlook for the 21st Century: Conflicts and Opportunities 1-6 Sept. 1997X 2000 Sydney, Australia
Sharing and Caring for Water 12-16 March 2000XI 2003 Madrid, Spain
Water Resources Management in the 21st Century 5-9 Oct. 2003XII 2005 New Delhi, India
Water for Sustainable Development, Towards Innovative Solutions 22-25 Nov. 2005XIII 2008 Montpellier, France
Global Changes and Water Resources 1-4 Sept. 2008XIV 2011 Porto-de-Galinhas, Brazil
Adaptive Water Management: looking to the future 25-29 Sept. 2011XV 2015 Edinburgh, Scotland
Global Water, A Resource for Development: Opportunities, Challenges & Constraints 25-29 May 2015XVI 2017 Cancun, Mexico
Bridging Science and Policy 29 May – 3 Jun 2017XVII 2021 Daegu, Korea
Foundations for Global Water Security and Resilience: Knowledge, Technology and Policy 29 November – 3 December 2021XVIII 2023 Bejing, China
Water for All: Harmony between Humans and Nature 11-15 September 2022XIX 2025 Marrakech, Morocco
Water in a Changing World: Innovation and Adaptation 1-5 December 20251972 – Ven Te Chow
1980 – Guillermo Cano
1983 – Jean Pierre Garbe
1986 – Peter J. Reynolds
1989 – Asit K. Biswas
1992 – Mahmoud Abu-Zeid
1995 – Glenn E. Stout
1998 – Benedito P.F. Braga
2001 – John J. Pigram
2004 – Aly M. Shady
2007 – Cecilia Tortajada
2010 – Jun Xia
2013 – Dogan Altinbilek
2016 – Patrick Lavarde
2019 – Gabriel Eckstein
2022 – Yuanyuan Li
2025 – Yuanyuan Li1972 – Falls Church, Virginia, USA
1976 – Washington D.C., USA
1984 – University of Illinois: Urbana, Illinois, USA
1995 – University of New Mexico: Albuquerque, USA
1998 – Southern Illinois University: Carbondale, Illinois, USA
2006 – McGill University: Montreal, Canada
2007 – Water Institute of South Africa (WISA): Midrand, South Africa
2010 – Association VERSeau Developpement: Montpellier, France
2016 – Agence de l’eau Seine-Normandie: Paris, France
2025 – International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO): Paris, France
IWRA over the years
