King’s Water Centre works to incubate, elevate, and empower the best science and innovation to tackle the world’s water problems. We are curiosity-driven, interdisciplinary, and solutions-focused. Based in the heart of London, King’s Water Centre brings together scholars and practitioners for a just and sustainable water future.
We're home to research expertise on water, environment and development. Our centre spans social and physical sciences to explore the challenges of water governance from global to local scales.
People
Senior Lecturer in Environment and Society
Emeritus Professor
Lecturer in Natural and Environmental Hazards
Professor of Political Science
Lecturer in Climate Change and Environmental Science
Research Associate
Projects
PLuS Alliance global river basins connections
Led by Dr Naho Mirumachi, this project builds interdisciplinary expertise on sustainability challenges in global river basins for enhanced scientific understanding and policy impact. Other project members include Dr Daanish Mustafa, Dr Mark Mulligan, Dr Emma Tebbs, Dr Mike Chadwick and Dr Rob Francis. Activities focus on comparative analysis of the sustainability of seven global river basins and on research-led education. The project is partnership with our PLuS Alliance colleagues from Arizona State University and UNSW. One highlight of this collaboration is a co-led annual field trip to the Okavango delta in Botswana. The Okavango river basin is one of the world’s last free flowing river deltas in the world and faces unique sustainability challenges as a biodiversity hotspot amidst competing water demands from multiple countries.
Policy support systems
Led by Dr Mark Mulligan, these policy support tools provide diverse web-based policy and decision-making support through scientifically grounded, data-driven, spatial systems. The platforms provide powerful and accessible tools aimed at bridging science and policy through data and knowledge exchange. Collaboratively built with AmbioTEK CIC, and applied by King’s and other partners, there are many systems hosted in the ecoengine framework and SimTerra databases supporting a variety of purposes. One of the largest interdisciplinary decision-making databases and policy support tools, WaterWorld, provides simulated and detailed analysis of a variety of policy decisions to explore unintended consequences and the possible impacts of land use changes, climate change, and baseline scenarios. There are policy options that are available to be implemented, as well as information on their consequences in both social and physical systems. Other tools include Co$ting Nature, Free Station, EcoActuary, and many more. Each tool has its own purpose and provides necessary support, training and information on how to use the data and outputs.
Geodata Portal
A public environmental data portal providing information (raw and visualised) to the scientific and conservation communities.
Publications
Books
Water: A critical introduction (Wiley)
Katie Meehan, Naho Mirumachi, Alex Loftus, Majed Akhter
Policy briefs
The United Nations 2023 Water Conference: Lessons from the Aral Sea Basin
Aliya Assubayeva, Bota Sharipova, Naho Mirumachi, Lucy Everitt. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18742/10.18742/pub01-173
Chemical contamination of drinking water: Emerging risks and latest concerns
Tamara Ibrahim Abdelaziz Sbeih, Naho Mirumachi, Wolfgang Maret, Theodora Stewart, Ruth Bowyer, Michael Chadwick, Alexander Griffiths, Daniel Schillereff, Chubin Zhang, Jessica Jemalem Ginting. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18742/pub01-149
Are microfibres a problem for aquatic ecosystems? What we don’t know about textile pollution
Matteo Gallidabino, Kelly Sheridan, Thomas Stanton, Alana James and Jessica Ginting. London: King's College London. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18742/pub01-148
Luigi Margiotta-Casaluci and Lucy Everitt. London: King's College London. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18742/pub01-122
Satellite Earth Observation for the Sustainable Management of the African Great Lakes
Emma Tebbs, Aidan Byrne, Davide Lomeo, Henry Thompson, Winnie Owoko, James Nyaga, Collins Ongore, James Last, Zeph Migeni and Lucy Everitt. London: King's College London. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18742/pub01-121
Homelessness, Water Insecurity, and the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation
Katie Meehan, Marianne Odetola, Alison Griswold. London: King's College London. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18742/pub01-085
Interlinking the human rights to water and sanitation with struggles for food and better livelihoods
Naho Mirumachi, Alison Griswold, Lyla Mehta, Shiney Varghese, Claudia Ringler. London: King's College London. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18742/pub01-086
Valuing water: a difficult but crucial step towards greater water justice
Ana Manero, Naho Mirumachi, Lucy Everitt, Andrea Mueller. London: King's College London. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18742/pub01-087
Environmental intelligence for managing dams and their catchments
Mark Mulligan, Arnout Van Soesbergen, Lucy Everitt. London: King's College London. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18742/pub01-088
Papers
Unveiling the Face-Dependent Ice Growth Kinetics: Insights from Molecular Dynamics on the Basal and Prism Surfaces
Jihong Shi; Maxwell Fulford; Matteo Salvalaglio; Carla Molteni
Investigating the quasi-liquid layer on ice surfaces: a comparison of order parameters, Carla Molteni, Jihong Shi, Maxwell Fulford, Hui Li, Mariam Marzook, Maryam Reisjalali and Matteo Salvalaglio
Ice surfaces are characterized by pre-melted quasi-liquid layers (QLLs), which mediate both crystal growth processes and interactions with external agents. Understanding QLLs at the molecular level is necessary to unravel the mechanisms of ice crystal formation. Computational studies of the QLLs heavily rely on the accuracy of the methods employed for identifying the local molecular environment and arrangements, discriminating between solid-like and liquid-like water molecules.
This work by TYC and MMM Hub researchers and their colleagues, provides an assessment of the selected identification methods for multi-phase systems and highlights intriguing differences in the behaviour of the investigated ice surfaces.
Influences of Elevated Nutrients and Water Temperature from Wastewater Effluent on River Ecosystem Metabolism, Zhang, M. & Chadwick, M. A., In: Environmental Processes. 9, 3, 43, September 2022
Activities
King’s Water Centre seminar series
The King’s Water Centre regularly hosts seminars and events to foster interdisciplinary dialogue on a range of topics, from new insights from primary research and debates on health, ecosystems, food, energy, climate aspects of water sustainability.
Tony Allan Memorial Lecture Series
This lecture series celebrates the intellectual legacy of our late emeritus colleague, Prof Tony Allan, and advances debates on topics of water, agriculture and political economy. Tony was devoted to understanding and communicating the challenges of water-food issues and passionately argued to step up action towards better water stewardship. Through annual lectures, we ask bold questions and provide thought-provoking, critical debate, just as he would have done.
Changing political economies in large river basins
This webinar series examines the wider theme of valuing water from a political economy perspective and with respect to a selection of the world’s key river basins and regions.
Annual hydro-hegemony conference
Dr Naho Mirumachi co-organises the annual hydro-hegemony conference, which brings together water scholars from around the globe. In 2019, the conference was hosted in the Hague, in partnership with IHE-Delft.
Okavango field trip
We co-organise an annual field trip to the Okavango Delta, Botswana with the PLuS Alliance Global River Basins Connections research group, Arizona State University and UNSW. Students participate from each of these three universities, as well as the University of Botswana. They work with researchers from each of the PLuS universities, as well as with Elephants Without Borders. Students engage with field researchers and conduct multiple studies for biodiversity counts (terrestrial and aquatic). The course is interdisciplinary, with an additional focus on water governance, sustainable tourism and human-wildlife interactions. The course received Arizona State University’s Innovative Experience Award in 2019 and a student from King’s Geography, Heather Needham, was awarded King’s Experience Award in 2020 for her participation in the course.
News
More people living without running water in US cities since the global financial crisis
More American cities – even those seen as affluent – are home to people living without running water as people are being ‘squeezed’ by unaffordable housing...
Project to limit the impact of melting glaciers on nearby people and systems
A new research project led by King’s is working to better support the people and systems downstream of glaciers and limit the melting taking place due to...
New book argues for a critical, social understanding of water to solve global challenges
The book by academics from the King’s Water Centre explores how social practices and geometries of power shape the flow of water.
Project on household water insecurity receives €2 million in funding
A research project analysing insecure water access in Europe and the United States has been awarded €2 million by the European Research Council (ERC).
Experts and students highlight the need for decisive climate action at COP27 debate hosted by King's
Students from four London universities come together to debate the key challenges around COP27.
Events
Tony Allan Memorial Lecture Series: "Supporting women in water management: The good, the bad and the ugly”
The third talk for the annual Tony Allan Memorial Lecture Series, which takes forward the intellectual legacy of our late emeritus colleague on topics of...
Please note: this event has passed.
Tony Allan Memorial Lecture Series: 'Advocating for a better food system and water stewardship: What are the roles of farmers and consumers?'
In this lecture, we will explore the relationship between food and water stewardship, as the second talk for the annual Tony Allan Memorial Lecture Series,...
Please note: this event has passed.
Engineering Microbial Biotech for Environmental Sustainability
Find out more about Engineering Microbial Biotech for Environmental Sustainability.
Please note: this event has passed.
Water in the MENA region – victim and casualty rather than source of conflict?
Part of the Department of Geography's centenary celebrations and the inaugural Tony Allan lecture, Anders Jägerskog will join us to discuss water, agriculture...
Please note: this event has passed.
Media
After the UN Water Conference: Examining the global dissonance
Following the UN 2023 Water Conference in March, King's Water Centre hosts a fascinating discussion examining the global dissonance, chaired by chaired by Professor Naho Mirumachi Director King’s Water Centre, and featuring: Catarina Fonseca (Associate of IRC - International Water and Sanitation Centre) Professor Lyla Mehta (Associate professor at IDS - Institute of Development Studies) Alan Nicol Alan (International Water Management Institute)
What is the value of water?
King's Water Centre and Australian National University have collaborated to publish a policy paper that looks at how the non-market benefits of water can be quantified. Watch this short animation video to learn more about the subject.
People
Senior Lecturer in Environment and Society
Emeritus Professor
Lecturer in Natural and Environmental Hazards
Professor of Political Science
Lecturer in Climate Change and Environmental Science
Research Associate
Projects
PLuS Alliance global river basins connections
Led by Dr Naho Mirumachi, this project builds interdisciplinary expertise on sustainability challenges in global river basins for enhanced scientific understanding and policy impact. Other project members include Dr Daanish Mustafa, Dr Mark Mulligan, Dr Emma Tebbs, Dr Mike Chadwick and Dr Rob Francis. Activities focus on comparative analysis of the sustainability of seven global river basins and on research-led education. The project is partnership with our PLuS Alliance colleagues from Arizona State University and UNSW. One highlight of this collaboration is a co-led annual field trip to the Okavango delta in Botswana. The Okavango river basin is one of the world’s last free flowing river deltas in the world and faces unique sustainability challenges as a biodiversity hotspot amidst competing water demands from multiple countries.
Policy support systems
Led by Dr Mark Mulligan, these policy support tools provide diverse web-based policy and decision-making support through scientifically grounded, data-driven, spatial systems. The platforms provide powerful and accessible tools aimed at bridging science and policy through data and knowledge exchange. Collaboratively built with AmbioTEK CIC, and applied by King’s and other partners, there are many systems hosted in the ecoengine framework and SimTerra databases supporting a variety of purposes. One of the largest interdisciplinary decision-making databases and policy support tools, WaterWorld, provides simulated and detailed analysis of a variety of policy decisions to explore unintended consequences and the possible impacts of land use changes, climate change, and baseline scenarios. There are policy options that are available to be implemented, as well as information on their consequences in both social and physical systems. Other tools include Co$ting Nature, Free Station, EcoActuary, and many more. Each tool has its own purpose and provides necessary support, training and information on how to use the data and outputs.
Geodata Portal
A public environmental data portal providing information (raw and visualised) to the scientific and conservation communities.
Publications
Books
Water: A critical introduction (Wiley)
Katie Meehan, Naho Mirumachi, Alex Loftus, Majed Akhter
Policy briefs
The United Nations 2023 Water Conference: Lessons from the Aral Sea Basin
Aliya Assubayeva, Bota Sharipova, Naho Mirumachi, Lucy Everitt. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18742/10.18742/pub01-173
Chemical contamination of drinking water: Emerging risks and latest concerns
Tamara Ibrahim Abdelaziz Sbeih, Naho Mirumachi, Wolfgang Maret, Theodora Stewart, Ruth Bowyer, Michael Chadwick, Alexander Griffiths, Daniel Schillereff, Chubin Zhang, Jessica Jemalem Ginting. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18742/pub01-149
Are microfibres a problem for aquatic ecosystems? What we don’t know about textile pollution
Matteo Gallidabino, Kelly Sheridan, Thomas Stanton, Alana James and Jessica Ginting. London: King's College London. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18742/pub01-148
Luigi Margiotta-Casaluci and Lucy Everitt. London: King's College London. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18742/pub01-122
Satellite Earth Observation for the Sustainable Management of the African Great Lakes
Emma Tebbs, Aidan Byrne, Davide Lomeo, Henry Thompson, Winnie Owoko, James Nyaga, Collins Ongore, James Last, Zeph Migeni and Lucy Everitt. London: King's College London. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18742/pub01-121
Homelessness, Water Insecurity, and the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation
Katie Meehan, Marianne Odetola, Alison Griswold. London: King's College London. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18742/pub01-085
Interlinking the human rights to water and sanitation with struggles for food and better livelihoods
Naho Mirumachi, Alison Griswold, Lyla Mehta, Shiney Varghese, Claudia Ringler. London: King's College London. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18742/pub01-086
Valuing water: a difficult but crucial step towards greater water justice
Ana Manero, Naho Mirumachi, Lucy Everitt, Andrea Mueller. London: King's College London. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18742/pub01-087
Environmental intelligence for managing dams and their catchments
Mark Mulligan, Arnout Van Soesbergen, Lucy Everitt. London: King's College London. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18742/pub01-088
Papers
Unveiling the Face-Dependent Ice Growth Kinetics: Insights from Molecular Dynamics on the Basal and Prism Surfaces
Jihong Shi; Maxwell Fulford; Matteo Salvalaglio; Carla Molteni
Investigating the quasi-liquid layer on ice surfaces: a comparison of order parameters, Carla Molteni, Jihong Shi, Maxwell Fulford, Hui Li, Mariam Marzook, Maryam Reisjalali and Matteo Salvalaglio
Ice surfaces are characterized by pre-melted quasi-liquid layers (QLLs), which mediate both crystal growth processes and interactions with external agents. Understanding QLLs at the molecular level is necessary to unravel the mechanisms of ice crystal formation. Computational studies of the QLLs heavily rely on the accuracy of the methods employed for identifying the local molecular environment and arrangements, discriminating between solid-like and liquid-like water molecules.
This work by TYC and MMM Hub researchers and their colleagues, provides an assessment of the selected identification methods for multi-phase systems and highlights intriguing differences in the behaviour of the investigated ice surfaces.
Influences of Elevated Nutrients and Water Temperature from Wastewater Effluent on River Ecosystem Metabolism, Zhang, M. & Chadwick, M. A., In: Environmental Processes. 9, 3, 43, September 2022
Activities
King’s Water Centre seminar series
The King’s Water Centre regularly hosts seminars and events to foster interdisciplinary dialogue on a range of topics, from new insights from primary research and debates on health, ecosystems, food, energy, climate aspects of water sustainability.
Tony Allan Memorial Lecture Series
This lecture series celebrates the intellectual legacy of our late emeritus colleague, Prof Tony Allan, and advances debates on topics of water, agriculture and political economy. Tony was devoted to understanding and communicating the challenges of water-food issues and passionately argued to step up action towards better water stewardship. Through annual lectures, we ask bold questions and provide thought-provoking, critical debate, just as he would have done.
Changing political economies in large river basins
This webinar series examines the wider theme of valuing water from a political economy perspective and with respect to a selection of the world’s key river basins and regions.
Annual hydro-hegemony conference
Dr Naho Mirumachi co-organises the annual hydro-hegemony conference, which brings together water scholars from around the globe. In 2019, the conference was hosted in the Hague, in partnership with IHE-Delft.
Okavango field trip
We co-organise an annual field trip to the Okavango Delta, Botswana with the PLuS Alliance Global River Basins Connections research group, Arizona State University and UNSW. Students participate from each of these three universities, as well as the University of Botswana. They work with researchers from each of the PLuS universities, as well as with Elephants Without Borders. Students engage with field researchers and conduct multiple studies for biodiversity counts (terrestrial and aquatic). The course is interdisciplinary, with an additional focus on water governance, sustainable tourism and human-wildlife interactions. The course received Arizona State University’s Innovative Experience Award in 2019 and a student from King’s Geography, Heather Needham, was awarded King’s Experience Award in 2020 for her participation in the course.
News
More people living without running water in US cities since the global financial crisis
More American cities – even those seen as affluent – are home to people living without running water as people are being ‘squeezed’ by unaffordable housing...
Project to limit the impact of melting glaciers on nearby people and systems
A new research project led by King’s is working to better support the people and systems downstream of glaciers and limit the melting taking place due to...
New book argues for a critical, social understanding of water to solve global challenges
The book by academics from the King’s Water Centre explores how social practices and geometries of power shape the flow of water.
Project on household water insecurity receives €2 million in funding
A research project analysing insecure water access in Europe and the United States has been awarded €2 million by the European Research Council (ERC).
Experts and students highlight the need for decisive climate action at COP27 debate hosted by King's
Students from four London universities come together to debate the key challenges around COP27.
Events
Tony Allan Memorial Lecture Series: "Supporting women in water management: The good, the bad and the ugly”
The third talk for the annual Tony Allan Memorial Lecture Series, which takes forward the intellectual legacy of our late emeritus colleague on topics of...
Please note: this event has passed.
Tony Allan Memorial Lecture Series: 'Advocating for a better food system and water stewardship: What are the roles of farmers and consumers?'
In this lecture, we will explore the relationship between food and water stewardship, as the second talk for the annual Tony Allan Memorial Lecture Series,...
Please note: this event has passed.
Engineering Microbial Biotech for Environmental Sustainability
Find out more about Engineering Microbial Biotech for Environmental Sustainability.
Please note: this event has passed.
Water in the MENA region – victim and casualty rather than source of conflict?
Part of the Department of Geography's centenary celebrations and the inaugural Tony Allan lecture, Anders Jägerskog will join us to discuss water, agriculture...
Please note: this event has passed.
Media
After the UN Water Conference: Examining the global dissonance
Following the UN 2023 Water Conference in March, King's Water Centre hosts a fascinating discussion examining the global dissonance, chaired by chaired by Professor Naho Mirumachi Director King’s Water Centre, and featuring: Catarina Fonseca (Associate of IRC - International Water and Sanitation Centre) Professor Lyla Mehta (Associate professor at IDS - Institute of Development Studies) Alan Nicol Alan (International Water Management Institute)
What is the value of water?
King's Water Centre and Australian National University have collaborated to publish a policy paper that looks at how the non-market benefits of water can be quantified. Watch this short animation video to learn more about the subject.
Our Partners
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
Related departments
- Department of Geography
- School of Global Affairs
- Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy
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- Department of Nutritional Sciences
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- School of Education, Communication & Society
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