Government Affairs Leadership
View our Press Room to contact AWWA Media Contacts.
The Press Room also has information about AWWA Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
Working to Shape the Future of Water
AWWA’s membership includes utility leaders, experts in water technology and finance, and U.S. water and water system operators that ensure water services to hundreds of millions of people 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. When it comes to water, they are the people that can tell decision-makers what they need to know.
Learn more about the Water Utility Council and meet the Government Affairs staff.
AWWA’s government affairs mission is straightforward:
- We advocate for sensible laws, regulations, programs and policies that ensure safe and affordable water for all Americans.
- We support sensible and effective measures that protect America’s irreplaceable sources of drinking water.
- We help water utilities function as high-performing and sustainable business enterprises (whether municipal or investor owned) so they can provide excellent service to their customers, today and over the long run.
The Voice of Water in Washington, D.C.
To carry out our mission in Washington, D.C., we establish and maintain effective working relationships with federal agencies, industry associations, key non-governmental organizations and other important stakeholders. We work hard to ensure our members know what is happening in Washington, D.C., that affects them and affects their ability to serve safe and affordable water to their customers. And we work equally hard to ensure that federal decision-makers hear the “voice of water” as they approach critical decisions.
Our Accomplishments
Over the years, our members working together have accomplished:
- We have conducted and continue to run an annual DC Fly-In that brings AWWA members from across the country to Washington, D.C., to bring the water community’s concerns directly to members of Congress and their staffs.
- We led the water community in encouraging Congress to approve the Water Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act in 2014.
- We led the water community in the widely acclaimed 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act, which moved away from quotas for standards to focus attention on the most important health threats.
- We led the water community in the Federal Advisory Committee process that negotiated changes to important rules, including the Disinfection By-products Rule, the Long Term 2 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule and the Total Coliform Rule.
- We led the successful fight against petrochemical company efforts to prevent utilities from suing to get contribution for cleanups from the contaminant MTBE.
Together with partner organizations our efforts led to:
- Water Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act in 2014.
- The widely acclaimed 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act, which moved away from quotas for standards to focus attention on the most important health threats.
- Negotiate changes to important rules, including the Disinfection By-products Rule, the Surface Water Treatment Rule, and the Total Coliform Rule.
- Successfully fought against petrochemical company efforts to prevent utilities from suing to get contribution for cleanups from the contaminant MTBE.
Today we provide ongoing thought leadership on critical problems facing water utilities, such as infrastructure finance.
Advertisement
Water Utility Council
AWWA’s Water Utility Council oversees the Association’s government affairs program to ensure it represents the sector effectively to benefit water consumers.
Organization
The WUC is composed only of senior officials of water utilities. The Council includes officials from utilities of all sizes and both municipal and private ownership, and pains are taken to ensure widespread diversity and geographic representation in WUC membership.
Membership is open to employees of utility members of AWWA, who may be nominated or self-nominate online. The nominating and appointing process for WUC positions is rigorous, fair, and open.
WUC positions include Chair, Vice Chair, Legislative Committee Chair and Regulatory Committee Chair.
Technical Advisory Workgroups
A network of technical experts drawn from AWWA’s membership are convened as needed to ensure AWWA is providing federal decision-makers, AWWA sections, utilities and the public timely and accurate information they need to make decisions. Currently technical advisory workgroups are working on the following topics:
- Climate Change and Sustainability
- Disinfection By-products and disinfection
- Distribution Systems
- Lead and Copper Rule
- Perchlorate
- Radionuclides
- SDWA processes and emerging contaminants
- Security and preparedness
- Utility management and finance
- Water resources and source water protection
If you are interested in learning more, please call 202.628.8303.
Water Utility Council Roster
Meridian Metropolitan District
Platte Canyon Water & Sanitation
Metropolitan Water District of Los Angeles
Aqua-Water Division of Essential Utilities
Southwest Water Company
American Cast Iron Pipe
Birmingham Water Works
Water District No. 1 of Johnson County
Canton Water Department
Oakland County Water Resources Commission
Beaver Water District
San Jose Water Company
Phoenix Water Services Department
Tremonton City Corp
City of Denton
Louisville Water Company
Hicksville Water District
West Slope Water District
Lehigh County Authority
American Water
Waterone
NY Dept. of Env. Protection
Orange Water And Sewer Authority
New Jersey American Water
Cincinnati Water Works
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority
NYC Dept. of Environmental Protection
City of St. Johns
American Water Works Association
Load More
Working Hard. Working Together. Working For You. We Watch Washington!
Contact the Government Affairs Office
We always want to hear from members and others with interest in the water sector. We also encourage members to arrange to meet with us in person if they are visiting the Washington, DC area. Please contact us at 202-628-8303 or email us at federalissues@awwa.org. You can also email the staff members below:
G. Tracy Mehan III
Executive Director of Government Affairs
Learn More
Steve Via
Director of Federal Relations
Learn More
Adam Carpenter
Manager, Energy and Environmental Policy
Learn More
Kevin Morley
Manager, Federal Relations
Learn More
Nate Norris
Director, Legislative Affairs
Learn More
Carita Parks
Manager, Media Relations
Learn More
Advertisement
