Government Affairs

AWWA maintains a Government Affairs Office in Washington, D.C., within a brief walk of the White House and short subway rides of Capitol Hill and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Those three entities are the focus of most of AWWA's governmental affairs efforts, although the association often deals with a myriad of other federal agencies as various issues arise. The AWWA Water Utility Council determines the policies of the association's government affairs activities in accordance. Learn more AWWA Government Affairs Office 1300 Eye St. NW Suite 701W Washington, DC 20005 (202) 628-8303

Carrie Lewis (center) superintendent of the Milwaukee Water Works, signs an Agreement in Principle on September 18, 2008, in Washington, D.C., that will lead to major revisions to the national Total Coliform Rule. Lewis represented AWWA in the negotiations. Looking on are Cynthia Dougherty, Director of the USEPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, and Ben Grumbles, Assistant Administrator for Water at USEPA.    Video Update on TCR Accord

AWWA Members Asked to Contact Congress on Drinking Water Infrastructure and Stimulus Bill AWWA's Government Affairs Office sent a customizable letter to its grassroots contacts on December 12, 2008, asking them to use that letter to communicate to members of Congress regarding drinking water infrastructure and upcoming economic stimulus legislation.  Data from a survey of utility contacts revealed about $10 billion in drinking water infrastructure projects that would be "shovel ready" within 120 days of receiving funding.  E-mails, faxes or phone calls are needed quickly, as the bill is already being drafted. AWWA sent a letter to all members of the House of Representatives and Senate on December 11 urging them to dedicate $10 billion of the upcoming economic stimulus bill to drinking water infrastructure projects, pointing out those projects would create more than 400,000 jobs.  On December 16, AWWA, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators and the National Association of Water Companies sent joint letters to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid with the same messages. AWWA, AMWA, NAWC, NRWA Provide National Drinking Water Agenda for President-Elect Obama The American Water Works Association, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, National Association of Water Companies and the National Rural Water Association jointly developed "A National Agenda for Drinking Water" to assist President-Elect Barack Obama and his incoming administration.  The booklet describes several drinking water issues and provides recommendations on how to address them in the near future. AWWA, Other Groups Sign TCR Agreement AWWA and other stakeholders participating in the Total Coliform Rule Distribution System Advisory Committee (TCRDSAC) gathered in Washington, D.C. Sept. 18, 2008, to sign an Agreement in Principle that will become the basis for a major revision of the national Total Coliform Rule (TCR).  US Environmental Protection Agency assembled the advisory committee to develop recommendations for the TCR more than 15 months ago. Other participants included other water utility representatives, USEPA officials, state regulators, environmental advocates, consumer advocates, and representatives of public health agencies.