Apply to TWLA

This 10-month leadership development program equips water utility professionals with skills to transform themselves, their organizations, and their communities.

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Transformative Water Leadership Academy

Apply to TWLA

TWLA-2025-table

Applications Are Now Open!

June 1-July 15, 2026

The Transformative Water Leadership Academy (TWLA) is where the next generation of water utility leaders focus on the foundations of sustainable community leadership: how to integrate social, environmental, and financial concerns into important decisions about water utilities.

We welcome about 50 participants in each cohort, from all over North America, which provides an opportunity to learn from a wide network of individuals. 

We are looking for TWLA applicants with the following:  

  • Mid-Career Level Experience. Three to 10 years of full-time work experience preferred, including at least two years of water-related work (preferably at a water utility or a related field).  
  • Supervisory and/or Management Experience. Past experience supervising people in your current professional, volunteer, or community work. Your experience may include management of projects, programs, committees, and contractors.  
  • Commitment to Learning. Availability to attend a majority of program sessions, including two required in-person workshops.

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Program Information

Timeline for acceptance: 

  • Applications open: June 1–July 15 
  • Application review: July 15–August 15 
  • Acceptance notification: Early September  

Questions about applying? Attend an information session to learn more about TWLA.

2027 Cohort Schedule

Justify the Expense for Your Employer

Justification Toolkit
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Tuition

Utility Size

Tuition Amount

Very Small and Small (>3,300)

$375

Medium (3,300-10,000)

$750

Large (10,001-100,000)

$1,500

Very Large (>100,000)

$3,000

Non-Profit

$1,500

Apply Now

Thank you for your interest in the Transformative Water Leadership Academy. The application is open June 1–July 15. 

We strongly recommend answering your questions in a separate document. You cannot save this application form and return to it later. 

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Transformative Water Leadership Academy Application

Contact Information

Applicants from each U.S. EPA Region, U.S. Territories, Canada and Mexico are preferred. All large group virtual sessions are conducted in Mountain Time, requiring active participation.

Supervisory/Management Experience

This program builds an individual’s capacity to lead others, support positive change at their utility, and positions a utility to better represent themselves as an anchor institution in their community.

Do you currently have Supervisory/Management Experience?
Do you anticipate having Supervisory/Management Experience in the next 1-3 years?

Leadership Capacity

Are you a member of AWWA? (AWWA membership is not required to apply to TWLA).
Do you volunteer with your local AWWA section?
* Note: This is not the size of your customer base, but rather the population of the community your utility serves as defined by EPA.
Have you previously worked for a Water Utility?
Do you have volunteer experience?
Please include your volunteer experience on your resume.

Short Answer Questions

These questions help us get to know you better and understand the vision you have for transformative change within the water utility sector.

We recommend writing your answers to these questions in a separate document prior to completing the form so you can look back at your answers. Please limit responses to no more than a paragraph for each question.

If you have barriers or challenges expressing yourself via a written response, please contact Lauren Steavpack, TWLA Project Manager at lsteavpack@awwa.org for an alternative way to submit your answers.

Did you attend a TWLA Information Session?
Your answer does not impact your application status but lets the TWLA Team know if these sessions were attended by prospective applicants.

Submit Resume

Maximum file size: 134.22MB

Commitment

Participating in the TWLA does require both a time and financial commitment. We want to make sure you have support from your employer to fully participate in TWLA.

Participants spend a minimum of 100 hours in the program, over the 10-month program period. This does NOT include time spent on the individual capstone project (40-60 hours in total) or the 2 in-person workshops (3 days each not including travel time).

For any questions about the program, please contact Lauren Steavpack, TWLA Project Manager at lsteavpack@awwa.org. 

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Schedule

TWLA 2027 Cohort Schedule

TWLA Course Topic

Type of Session

*Details

Dates

Leadership & Management

Virtual

One Session (2.5 hours)

January 13

Leadership & Management

Virtual

One Session (2.5 hours)

January 20

Advancing the Water Workforce: Individual, Organizational, and Community Leadership

In-Person Workshop

Three days (not including travel time)

March 3-5

Protecting Public Health

Virtual

One Session (2.5 hours)

March 17

Protecting Public Health

Virtual

One Session (2.5 hours)

March 24

Small Group

Virtual

Two Sessions (1.5 hours each)

April 12 & 23

Strengthening Public Trust

Virtual

One Sessions (2.5 hours)

May 12

Strengthening Public Trust

Virtual

One Session (2.5 hours)

May 19

Safeguarding The Environment

Virtual

One Session (2.5 hours)

June 2

Small Group

Virtual

Two Sessions (1.5 hours each)

July 12 & 23

Inspiring Innovation

Virtual

One Session (2.5 hours)

August 11

Inspiring Innovation

Virtual

One Session (2.5 hours)

August 18

Small Group

Virtual

Two Sessions (1.5 hours each)

September 7 & 17

Climate Resiliency: Think Global, Act Local

Virtual

One Session (2.5 hours)

September 29

Climate Resiliency: Think Global, Act Local

Virutal

One Session (2.5 hours)

October 7

Graduation: Bringing It All Together

In-Person

2.5 Days (not counting travel time)

October 20-22

*Session Times

*All Sessions will be held during the following times: 7:00am-9:30am HT | 10:00am-12:30pm PT | 11:00am-1:30pm MT | 12:00pm-2:30pm CT | 1:00pm-3:30pm ET

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