AWWA Initiative

Water 2050

AWWA’s Water 2050 initiative will shape a long-term vision of the future of water that will chart a course for a successful and sustainable water sector.

Water 2050 Vision

A secure, sustainable, affordable, resilient, and innovative water future for all, in which everyone in the water community is collectively responsible for the management and preservation of this vital resource.

A secure,	Water that is safe, available and of the highest quality for its intended use
sustainable,	Embracing circularity to minimize waste, reduce our footprint and safeguarding water for future generations
affordable,	Equitably priced water that is affordable and accessible to all
resilient,	A versatile, adaptable water paradigm that is not easily impaired by or can quickly recover from adverse events
and innovative	New solutions that create new ways of understanding water consumption, consumer needs and service delivery
water future for all, in which
^{everyone in}^{the water community}	Water professionals, adjacent water-dependent sectors, government, businesses, communities and individuals
is collectively responsible	Water is personal and everyone has a shared responsibility for its management and protection
for the management and preservation of	Protection of water through a One Water governance approach
this vital resource.	Water, of course!

Priorities

Water 2050 Strategic Priorities

Water 2050 has transitioned from a stage of exploration to implementation. Strategic Implementation Teams (SITs) are driving action across five priority areas. These teams, composed of volunteer experts and young professionals from within and outside the water community, are developing action plans and engaging partners to achieve our goals. To achieve our vision for a sustainable and resilient water future, Water 2050 is focusing on five Strategic Priorities that address the most critical challenges and opportunities facing the water sector.

These priorities guide the work of diverse Strategic Implementation Teams (SITs), which develop action plans and engage partners to create a thriving water future for all.

1. Sustainability & Resilience

A sustainable and resilient water future will bring about a more robust, versatile and adaptable water community – with a water paradigm that is not easily impaired by environmental, technical, economic, political, or demographic externalities.

Sustainability & Resilience

2. Innovation & Circular Economy

Enabled by innovation and emerging technologies, the future of a one water approach will be built around a circular water economy in which each component produced through treatment processes (liquid, solid and energy) is leveraged as an intrinsic value stream, reducing waste throughout the water community’s footprint.

Innovation & Circular Economy

3. Finance & Affordability

In our envisioned future, water will be viewed as a public good, and the water community will have a shared understanding of the value of water, beyond current-day cost-of-service terms. While we will recognize the true, full costs of water, it will not be an economic burden on low-income, disadvantaged communities.

Finance & Affordability

4. One Water Governance

In a One Water future, an integrated management and governance framework will enable the value of water to be governed such that its highest and best use is leveraged to better serve communities and preserve the entire ecosystem.

One Water Governance

5. Equity, Access & Community Engagement

In our envisioned future, communities will provide water to their citizens in fair and equitable ways, allowing affordable access for all. Everyone in the water community will have a shared sense of responsibility for water preservation and will be empowered to protect it for current and future generations.

Equity, Access & Community Engagement

Dear 2050 Video

Hopes & Ideas About the Water Sector From 2023

The future of the water sector, and the future of global water, are in the capable hands of current and future water professionals. This video showcases 10 authors reading excerpts from their letters to water professionals in the year 2050.

These priorities guide the work of diverse Strategic Implementation Teams (SITs), which develop action plans and engage partners to create a thriving water future for all.

See All Water 2050 Videos

Water 2050’s Beginnings

Water 2050 is already expanding far beyond AWWA to become a broad movement toward a successful water future. From its infancy, the initiative was focused on:

Engaging in meaningful conversations. Throughout 2022 and 2023, thought leaders from within and outside the water sector gathered at intimate “think tanks” to examine the future of water through the prism of five key drivers: sustainability, technology, economics, social/demographics, and governance.

Capturing collective knowledge. AWWA issued reports on insights from each think tank and published additional guidance to support the water community in realizing the Water 2050 vision. Input was gathered also gathered from members, conference attendees, AWWA’s geographical sections and others.

Enlisting strategic partners. Collaboration among water utilities, service providers, academia, water-sector organizations, and non-traditional partners is essential. We are reaching beyond the water sector to engage corporate water users, nonprofit organizations and other stakeholder groups for fresh insights.

Fostering intergenerational responsibility. Today’s and tomorrow’s water professionals and leaders must work together to create a successful future. The voices of young and emerging professionals remain an integral part of the initiative.

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