THE WALK OF WATER
History
The Walk of Water (WoW) is an annual photostory contest and exhibition that explores the vital role of water in our world. Each year, its theme aligns with the UN World Water Development Report, ensuring that the WoW is topical and relevant to global water priorities.
Photographers of all levels are invited to contribute visual narratives that demonstrate the many ways in which water shapes our lives - from its cultural and spiritual significance to its influence on daily life, livelihoods, and the environment.
The winning entries, selected by an international jury of experts, are then featured in a traveling exhibition that brings water-related stories to diverse audiences worldwide.
As of 2025, the WoW has received over 20,000 images from photographers across 120+ countries, solidifying its place as a global platform for water storytelling.
Motivation
We envision a world where everyone recognises and acts upon the importance of clean water, safe sanitation, and healthy oceans. Through powerful and captivating photojournalism, the WoW aims to inspire people to value water, use it responsibly, and support conservation efforts.
Visual storytelling transcends age, background and language, making it accessible to a wide range of audiences. Combined with translations, guided tours, workshops and roundtable discussions, the WoW creates memorable experiences that encourage reflection and dialogue.
Goals
1. Educate on water’s critical role in sustaining life, ecosystems and communities.
2. Emphasise the urgent need for sustainable management to address global water challenges.
3.Demonstrate how innovative solutions and inclusive water governance can transform water management.
4.Highlight partnerships between local communities, policy-makers, organisations and other stakeholders in water conservation initiatives.
5.Amplify the voices of women, Indigenous communities and marginalised groups, recognising them as key drivers of water stewardship.
6.Celebrate successful water conservation initiatives and community-driven solutions
If you would like to co-convene the annual contest or host a Walk of Water Exhibition, please reach out to [email protected]
Past themes
Previous themes include: Groundwater (2021), Water, Partnerships and Cooperation (2022), Water for Peace and Prosperity (2023), Water Towers (2024), Identities (2025).
2025: Gender | Open from August 10 – December 7
The 2026 UN World Water Development Report will focus on the crucial link between gender and water. To complement its findings, UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme and Onewater are proud to announce the 5th edition of the Walk of Water photostory contest.
Running from September 22 to December 7, 2025, the contest invites photographers to explore the different roles, experiences, and perspectives of all genders in relation to water.
The contest aims to
- Celebrate the diverse ways people of all genders interact with and manage water resources. This includes highlighting the unique experiences of transgender, non-binary, and other LGBTQ+ individuals in accessing and managing water.
- Expose inequalities in water access and their impact on people of different genders, shaping daily life and community practices.
- Inspire change by showcasing the resilience, innovation, and leadership of individuals of all genders in their interactions with water and the environment.
Organisations interested in sponsorship or partnership opportunities can express their interest until July 22, 2025. Join us in visually capturing the deep, interconnected relationship between gender and water. Together, we can celebrate the strength of diversity in water stewardship and support a future where gender equity drives sustainable water solutions.
2024: Water Towers | Open from August 10 – December 8
The 2024 edition of the WoW centred on the theme of ‘Water Towers’, aligning with the upcoming 2025 International Year of Glacier Preservation. The contest was held in partnership with UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme, MPB, the Asian Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the City of Burghausen.
Through its powerful imagery, WoW 2024 shed a light on the urgent challenges posed by melting glaciers, celebrated diverse forms of water storage, and explored the concept of “water towers” as critical sources of life and preservation. This included:
- Document the impact of climate change and glacial retreat on nature and people, from source to sea, capturing the cascading effects on ecosystems and communities.
- Capture the essence of both natural and built water storage systems, showcasing their vital role in sustaining life while acknowledging the challenges of changing environments and landscapes.
- Explore the emergence of new, metaphorical "water towers," such as innovative water management solutions, alternative freshwater sources, and artistic expressions that reimagine our relationship with water.
Overall, over 600 entries were submitted to the contest.
Exhibition Highlights
- [Upcoming]
UNESCO HQ, Paris | March 22, 2025
- [Upcoming]
World Water Congress, Morocco | December 2025
2023: Water for Peace and Prosperity
In collaboration with UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme, the 2023 edition of the WoW was held under the theme ‘Water for Peace and Prosperity’. This global initiative invited photographers and storytellers to explore water’s profound role in fostering peace, harmony, and sustainable development.
With over 800 submissions from participants across the globe, WoW 2023 showcased the universal yet deeply personal significance of water. It successfully:
- Framed water as a crucial peacebuilding tool, particularly in transboundary regions where shared resources require cooperation and collaboration
- Highlighted water’s essential role in driving prosperity at all levels, from sustaining personal livelihoods to supporting national economies
- Positioned water as a key element for problem-solving, conflict prevention and sustainable solutions
- Demonstrated how water can to unite rather than divide
Exhibition Highlights
- Walk of Water – 28 Stories, Haus der Fotografie, Burghausen, Germany | July 22 – November 3, 2024
The WoW exhibition at Burghausen Castle showcased 28 powerful stories, featuring over 120 photographs that explored water’s role in climate change, sustainability, conservation, daily life, culture, and livelihoods. The exhibition was enriched by weekly guided tours in multiple languages, and a virtual exhibition extended access to global audiences.
- Earth Technology Expo, Florence, Italy | September 2024
The Earth Technology Expo, targeted towards researchers, public administrators, and water professionals, examined the use of technology and innovation to address environmental and water-related challenges. The WoW offered a contrasting yet complementary perspective by highlighting the human and cultural dimensions of water management. It underscored the role of collaboration, traditional knowledge, and community-driven solutions alongside technological advancements.
- UN Ocean Decade Conference, Barcelona, Spain | April 2024
Sponsored by Fundación MarViva and Focused on Nature, Onewater co-organised the Early Career Ocean Professional Mixer event during the UN Ocean Decade Conference. It blended networking, live music, and an ocean-themed Walk of Water to spark discussions on ocean conservation. The evening also featured a screening of OneWater’s documentary El Espíritu de Nuestro Mar and a showcase of children’s Letters to the Sea. With over 200 attendees, WoW’s curated photostories provided a visually striking backdrop, enhancing the event’s immersive and reflective atmosphere.
- World Water Day Conference, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris | March 2024
To celebrate World Water Day, Onewater headed to Paris. The WoW took centre stage with both a photostory exhibition and a TED-style presentation on the role of photography in communicating water-related challenges and solutions Using photographic case studies on menstrual hygiene, drought, and ocean resilience, the talk highlighted how storytelling can bridge knowledge gaps, spark dialogue, and drive action. These themes were reflected in the photostory exhibition, which displayed a powerful visual narrative on water’s role in both peace and conflict.
- CWRA/BCWWA World Water Day, Vancouver, Canada | March 2024
A curated selection of 15 photo stories showcased water’s transformative role in fostering peace and prosperity, celebrating its impact on communities and the environment.
2022: Water for Partnerships and Cooperation
The second edition of the WoW, held in collaboration with UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme, highlighted the importance of collaboration in water management. It showcased how cooperation across borders, sectors, and communities is essential in tackling shared water challenges and ensuring sustainable solutions.
The photostories captured human stories that:
- Highlighted community-led initiatives that bring together local actors
- Demonstrated how cross-sector partnerships can improve water access and management
- Showcased inclusive approaches that amplify the voices of marginalised groups
- Illustrated innovative, collective solutions to water governance
Exhibition Highlights
- UN 2023 Water Conference, New York | March 2023
The WoW: Water for Partnerships and Cooperation was one of the five subsections which formed the wider Walk of Water: An Intergenerational Journey exhibition at the UN 2023 Water Conference. This exhibition addressed the theme of intergenerational equity in water management, emphasising the interconnected roles of past, present, and future generations in managing water resources.
The WoW: An Intergenerational Journey consisted of:
-> I Remember Water: A historical narrative, told through photographs, exploring how water has shaped human societies (curated by the Global Network of Water Museums).
-> #EverydayNile: A visual journey of life along the Nile River, celebrating the communities and cultures across its riparian countries (curated by IHE Delft and InfoNile).
-> Partnerships and Cooperation for Water: Featuring the winning pieces of the WoW 2023 photostory contest, this section underscored the importance of collaboration in overcoming water challenges (curated by Onewater and UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme).
-> The Water We Want: A collection of children’s drawings reflecting their hopes and concerns about the future of water (curated by the Global Network of Water Museums).
-> Gateway for the Future of the Mediterranean:
An exploration of water, energy, and food systems through the lens of ancient Mediterranean mythology (curated by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre).
2021: Groundwater – Making the Invisible Visible
In 2021, Onewater and UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme launched their first WoW photostory contest, under the theme of groundwater. It aimed to raise awareness of groundwater depletion - a critical yet often overlooked issue affecting 2 billion people globally - by “making the invisible visible” through visual storytelling.
The contest:
- Highlighted groundwater’s essential role in drinking water supply, food production, and ecosystem health
- Illustrated the environmental and social consequences of aquifer pollution and groundwater contamination
- Reinforced the urgency of sustainable groundwater management and advocated for improved conservation efforts
Exhibition Highlights
- UN-Water Summit on Groundwater, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris | December 2022
Following the success of the contest, Onewater curated its first WoW exhibition: “Make the Invisible Visible”. Featuring carefully selected photographs, the exhibition captured the urgency of groundwater challenges, telling stories of depletion, contamination, and community resilience.
It was displayed during the UN-Water Summit on Groundwater on the exterior gate and in the atrium at UNESCO HQ, drawing attention from both conference attendees and the general public.
- Groundwater Book Launch, Oxford University | November 2022
As a follow-up to the photostory contest, Onewater successfully crowdfunded and published Groundwater, a comprehensive book featuring some of the contest’s most impactful stories. This book includes:
-> Compelling photostories that visually convey the global groundwater crisis
-> Expert insights from academics and water professionals on groundwater management
-> Illustrations and graphics designed to enhance understanding and engage diverse audiences.
More than just a publication, Groundwater is a captivating resource for raising awareness, bridging the gap between science and storytelling, and inspiring action on groundwater challenges. It was officially launched at the University of Oxford.