Nominations for the Creativity Prize must be made by a university, institution, or government agency on behalf of individuals or teams of researchers. The Creativity Prize is awarded to an innovator or pioneer for scientific work that can rightly be considered a breakthrough in any water-related field. The work might be a body of research, an invention, or a new patented technology.

Researchers, research teams, and organizations nominate themselves for four Specialized Prizes: 1) Surface Water Prize– covering every aspect of the study and development of surface water resources; 2) Groundwater Prize–covering every aspect of the study and development of groundwater resources; 3)Alternative Water Resources Prize– covering desalination, wastewater treatment, and other nontraditional sources of water; and 4) Water Management & Protection Prize– covering the use, management, and protection of water resources.

The work or works being considered for the nomination must have been completed no more than five (5) years prior to the nomination deadline for the current Prize.

Funding Amount: $266K (Creativity Prize); $133K (Specialized Prizes)