Living Water Cities

The Living Water Cities Movement

Floating Ecosystems offer a unique technical solution to the degradation of urban waterways allowing vibrant and biodiverse wetland ecosystems to be established on hard edged urban rivers, lakes, reservoirs & canals. The Living Water Cities Movement is a banner under which we can all gather. By working together and channelling our efforts we can turn underused and polluted resources into vast, living infrastructure.

Make Your City a Living Water City

Watch this video to learn more about the Living Water Cities vision.

23 & 24 September 2026

Living Water Cities - Conference & Forum

London Museum Docklands, UK

Bringing nature back into every stage of the urban water cycle

Biomatrix Water is pleased to announce the Living Water Cities Conference – a two-day international gathering dedicated to one of the most urgent challenges of our time: restoring nature to the full urban water cycle.

From catchment to coast, from treatment works to storm tanks, from reservoirs to hard-edged urban waterways, this invitation-only event will bring together the practitioners, innovators, water companies, designers, and thought leaders shaping a living water future.

Day One

Wednesday 23 September
Urban Renaturalisation, Habitat and Placemaking

The first day will focus on urban renaturalisation, habitat creation, floating parks and placemaking, with case studies presented from leading projects around the world.

This day brings together practitioners and thought leaders working at the intersection of urban habitat, floating wetlands and architecture. The Living Water Cities conference will create space to network, exchange ideas, and explore new opportunities and collaborations.

The conversation will move beyond theory into practical feasibility, examining what it actually takes to deliver these projects on the ground, from design and engineering considerations through to long-term ecological performance.

Day Two

Thursday 24 September
Ecological Engineering and Water Infrastructure

The second day continues the exploration into ecological engineering and ecosystem infrastructure, focusing on how living systems and technologies can be applied within water management infrastructure.

The day examines how these nature-based approaches offer water companies and municipalities a practical, scalable tool for managing water, bridging in to waste water, storm water and surface water applications all working with natural processes rather than against them – delivering multiple benefits from water quality and habitat, to microbiological resilience within treatment processes.

Site Visits

Royal Docks | Eden Dock

During the conference, delegates will have the opportunity to be introduced to two innovative floating installations in a live urban context within the East London Docklands – one of Europe’s most ambitious urban waterfront regeneration projects.

More Information

For more information about the Living Water Cities international conference and forum, or to reserve a ticket, please contact us on solutions@biomatrixwater.com.

Bring the Waterscape to Life

View the city animation and click on the numbers to see how the city can become a Living Water City.

RESERVOIRS

Add ecological and landscape value and increase water quality in RESERVOIRS and large water-bodies using floating islands.

Helix Flow

HELIX FLOW REACTOR decentralised integrated wastewater treatment.

Living Marinas

Bring new life and green space to hard-edged MARINAS.

SUDS

Increase the performance of SUDS projects with floating technology responding to changing water levels and increasing habitat and water quality.

Floating Riverwalks

FLOATING RIVERWALKS bring out the potential of waterways and maximise their amenity value.

Fish Habitat

Floating Ecosystems improve FISH HABITAT by providing shelter and feeding grounds for fish.

Active Island

Treat urban wastewater and storm water using ACTIVE ISLAND REACTORS that aerate and circulate the water.

Floating Riverbanks

FLOATING RIVERBANKS revitalise vertical concrete or sheet pile water edges by creating soft green edges.

Urban Basins and Ponds

Create attractive green havens for wildlife and people by maximising the potential of urban URBAN BASINS AND PONDS.

Bird Habitat

Floating islands improve BIRD HABITAT by creating sheltered and undisturbed nesting and preening platforms.

Why Living Water Cities?

Almost all cities are water cities. Water commonly serves as a defining, founding feature of settlements. Rivers, lakes and estuaries were once the heart of trade, transport and leisure, and still serve as landmark features for tourism and relaxation. Yet, rapid urbanisation has degraded the water bodies of our cities.

Our cities are expanding and new ways of life are taking us further and further from nature. The waterfronts of today’s growing cities typically incorporate docks, canals, flood defences, storm water channels and many different types of containing and retaining walls to control urban water systems.

The result is that today’s water cities typically contain many kilometres of water edge comprised predominantly of hard concrete, steel sheet pile, or stone work. This way, the potential is lost for waterways to become ecological corridors, waterscapes that provide sanctuary for a wide range of species as well as a place for people to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

Urban river restoration has expanded in recent years, people are starting to understand the interconnected benefits that restored ecosystems can provide to society without disrupting existing infrastructure.