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RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Two sessions being held in Stockholm on Sunday, Aug. 24, as part of World Water Week 2025, will highlight expertise and innovation from experts at the independent scientific research institute RTI International. A session focused on lead contamination in sub-Saharan Africa includes RTI as a convener and presenter, and another session will explore RTI’s Watershed Flow and ALLocation (WaterFALL®) model.
Session: “Eliminating Lead in Drinking Water: Focus on Sub-Saharan Africa”
A 90-minute session titled “Eliminating Lead in Drinking Water: Focus on Sub-Saharan Africa” will present new evidence and strategies to eliminate lead exposure from water infrastructure.
The session will feature opening remarks from the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO). It will also include presentations from the other conveners, which include RTI, the Uganda Ministry of Water and Environment, World Vision, World Bank Group, Rutgers University, the Water Institute at UNC, UNICEF, the International Toxic Metals Working Group, and associated member organizations
Panel discussions will explore the scope of contamination, health impacts and policy responses. Country case studies from Ghana and Uganda will highlight supply chain challenges and successful interventions. Technical experts will also share evidence-based approaches to detect and prevent exposure to unsafe plumbing products.
The session will be held in Room 24/25, Level 2, in the Stockholm Waterfront Congress Centre on Aug. 24 at 11 a.m. CEST / 5 a.m. EDT. Online access is available for remote participants.
Session: “Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) Explorer – A Web Application Developed to Quantify the Benefits of NBS Implementation”
In this online session, RTI experts will present an innovative cloud-based web application designed to help communities assess the benefits of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for flood mitigation. The session will feature a live demonstration of the application, which is currently deployed for the state of Louisiana.
Developed by RTI’s multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists, statisticians, and software developers, the NBS Explorer is built on RTI’s WaterFALL modeling platform. It enables users to simulate hydrology and water quality across inland watersheds and evaluate the impacts of land use and climate change, as well as the effectiveness of watershed management strategies.
The application was created in partnership with the Louisiana Watershed Initiative (LWI), launched in response to the historic 2016 floods that revealed critical gaps in the state’s floodplain management. Backed by a $1.2 billion federal grant, LWI aims to reduce flood risk and improve resilience through innovative approaches, including NBS. In 2021, LWI engaged RTI and The Nature Conservancy’s Louisiana Chapter to explore NBS options and support watershed planning.
The session will take place at 4 p.m. CEST / 10 a.m. EDT under Session 12337. Registration is free and available online.
RTI International is an independent scientific research institute dedicated to improving the human condition. Our vision is to address the world's most critical problems with technical and science-based solutions in pursuit of a better future. Clients rely on us to answer questions that demand an objective and multidisciplinary approach—one that integrates expertise across social, statistical, data, and laboratory sciences, engineering, and other technical disciplines to solve the world’s most challenging problems.
For more information, visit www.rti.org.