AWWA reaches 200 standards milestone

Last month, the American Water Works Association issued its 200th standard, illustrating the breadth and depth of the technical guidance available for ensuring safe, reliable, and innovative water systems.

“I am proud to reach this milestone,” said Paul Olson, director of standards at AWWA. “From our first standard in 1908 through this most recent milestone, AWWA Standards are a trusted resource for our members and the water sector.”

What began more than 100 years ago with a small collection of standards that focused on pipes, hydrants, and meters has expanded into a comprehensive library that supports every element of the water sector, including treatment chemicals, filtration technologies, storage, plant equipment, pipe rehabilitation, and utility management practices.

The most recent standard — ANSI/AWWA F111 Ultraviolet Disinfection (UV) Systems for Wastewater Effluent — was released last month. It describes the minimum requirements for materials, design, testing, installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment needed for UV disinfection of wastewater effluent.

UV disinfection minimizes reliance on chemical disinfectants and produces high-quality effluent suitable for reuse, which is a key tenet of AWWA’s Water 2050 initiative. Water 2050 calls for safeguarding water for future generations by striving for circular water practices such as these.

Each standard undergoes a public review and comment period, which is reviewed by a committee of AWWA volunteers that ensures the final standard represents an industry-wide consensus. The AWWA Standards Council now comprises more than 1,600 volunteers, and volunteers review standards on a consistent schedule to stay up-to-date with current technologies and processes.

“AWWA’s standards process is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and all 200 standards have been approved by ANSI and designated as American National Standards, demonstrating the rigor and credibility of the process,” Olson said.

Last year, AWWA achieved the prestigious Audited Designator status as a standards developer at ANSI.