The 2026 Global Water Awards were announced at the Global Water Summit on May 19 in Madrid, Spain. Two major projects constructed by POWERCHINA took home prestigious honors: the Jafurah Desalination Project in Saudi Arabia won the "Industrial Project of the Year" award, while the Upper Wawa Bulk Water Project in the Philippines was named "Water Project of the Year".
The Jafurah Desalination Project in Saudi Arabia provides industrial water for the Jafurah Gas Field.
The Jafurah Desalination Project serves as a core supporting infrastructure facility for Saudi Aramco's unconventional gas field in eastern Saudi Arabia. This deep-infrastructure megaproject integrates desalination, long-distance water and power transmission, and in-field distribution, supplying Aramco's operations with 500,000 barrels per day of treated seawater.
Utilizing world-leading reverse osmosis membrane separation technology, the facility has a freshwater production capacity of 80,000 m³/day and delivers high-quality water through 200 km of pipelines. The system maintains industry-leading reliability despite significant fluctuations in intake salinity and temperature, achieving 97.2 percent treated water availability. Redundant RO trains, advanced real-time monitoring systems, and 85,000 m³ of storage capacity ensure a continuous and resilient water supply to the field.
By providing a stable, high-standard industrial water supply for the Jafurah Gas Field, the project plays a significant strategic role in strengthening Saudi Arabia's energy supply chain and deepening energy cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia.
The project has now entered its final handover and warranty phase, with the team focused on resolving all remaining issues and ensuring stable long-term operations.
The Upper Wawa Bulk Water Project in the Philippines can regulate and store floodwaters during typhoons and heavy rainfall.
The Upper Wawa Bulk Water Project in the Philippines is one of the country's most critical livelihood and water conservancy initiatives in recent years. Upon completion, the project has enhanced the water supply security for around 7.8 million people in the Philippine capital.
With a designed water supply capacity of 500,000 tons per day, it provides a more stable, safer, and cleaner domestic water supply for millions of residents. Furthermore, the dam plays a key role in flood control and disaster mitigation. It can regulate and store floodwaters during typhoons and heavy rainfall, alleviating downstream peak flood pressure and bolstering the region's overall water safety.
Organized by Global Water Intelligence (GWI), an authoritative international water industry think tank, the Global Water Awards are the most influential annual accolades in the global water sector, representing its highest international honor.
This year's awards attracted leading water companies and major projects from around the world. POWERCHINA's two awards highlight international recognition of its expertise in seawater desalination and integrated water supply projects.
