Revised Policy Statement: Sustainability

AWWA Policy: Sustainability 

April 18, 2024

The following revised AWWA Policy Statement on Sustainability has been approved by the Technical and Educational Council for member comment. 
Comments on the policy statement will be reviewed by AWWA staff and forwarded to the Executive Committee if the comments are minor, or referred back to the originating body if the comments are substantive. Policies forwarded to the Executive Committee will be reviewed for approval and final action. 

Sustainability 

The American Water Works Association advocates sustainable design, construction, management, and operation of utilities and programs that manage or affect water resources. For this policy statement, sustainability shall be taken to mean: “using resources in an economically, environmentally, and socially responsible manner (i.e., a triple‐bottom‐line approach) to meet the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet the needs of tomorrow.”

Water utilities have stewardship responsibilities associated with a wide range of built, natural, and societal assets. A focus on sustainability supports stewardship, contributes to sound environmental, social and governance (ESG) activities, and advances a circular economy by reusing and recapturing what would traditionally be discarded (e.g., water, energy, materials).
 
AWWA supports an approach to sustainability that considers utility impacts on society and the environment, as well as external risks and opportunities that could impact utility operations. Utilities should consider locally relevant conditions and priorities to make sustainable decisions for current and future economic, environmental, and social scenarios.

Recognizing that sustainability is a continuous and evolving improvement process, AWWA supports efforts by utilities to strive to be more sustainable and proactive through the evaluation and implementation of innovative technologies, business practices, and engagement strategies. 

Practices specified in this policy statement are consistent with all other pertinent AWWA policy statements.  

Adopted by the Board of Directors Jan 23, 2011. Revised June 8, 2014 and June 11, 2017.

Submit comments by May 18, 2024.