The 23rd annual world water week began recently, with Global leaders coming together in Stockholm with one particular thing in mind, improved cooperation regarding water. With a rapid expansion of Global economies and populations, the ever consistent water supply is being out under more and more stress. At this time, unification over our number one resource could not be more crucial. At World Water Weeks opening session, Mr Torgny Holmgren, SIWI Executive Director said: "Mortgaging our future by draining water from the ground, surface and sky faster than it can be replaced by nature is untenable and unwise. It will undermine the stability and security of our entire civilisation. Unprejudiced cooperation and solid partnerships will be a prerequisite for successfully sharing and managing the water we have. We need to strengthen transboundary cooperation because water does not adhere to national boundaries, we need to build more and stronger bridges between the public and private sectors, we must learn to use less water better - and most importantly, we need to make sure that every person on earth gets access to safe drinking water and sanitation." However, with populations on the rise but no more water appearing, this task seems increasingly difficult. Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Jan Eliasson, set about urging both governments and private sectors to help prevent the 5,000 daily deaths causes by diseases associated with a lack of clean water and sanitation. "Lack of sanitation has a direct impact on health, nutrition, education, womens and girls rights and poverty reduction," stated Eliasson. "I call on all concerned to do their part." The theme Water Cooperation - Building Partnerships will bring together an approximate 2,500 participants across 100 seminars, events and workshops in an effort to induce the more innovative ideas necessary to build a sustainable, water wise future.