Who We Are
The American Water Works Association is an international, nonprofit, scientific, and educational association dedicated to a better world through better water.
Founded in 1881, AWWA is the largest organization of water supply professionals in the world.
Our membership includes more than 4,300 utilities that supply roughly 80% of North America’s drinking water and treat almost half of North America’s wastewater. Our 50,000 members represent the full spectrum of the water community: water and wastewater systems, environmental advocates, scientists, academicians, and others who hold a genuine interest in water, our most vital resource.
AWWA also takes great pride in helping establish several preeminent organizations dedicated to safe water, including the Water Research Foundation in 1966, Water For People in 1991, and Water Equation in 2015. AWWA unites the diverse water community to advance public health, safety, the economy, the water workforce, and the environment.
What we do:
AWWA Timeline
The history of AWWA is the history of the people who have committed themselves to achieving the purpose set forth more than a century ago, now simply stated as creating a better world through better water.
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1881
AWWA is Founded
On March 29, 1881, 22 water utility manager, engineers, and operators gathered at the Campus of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. This meeting was the first-ever Annual Convention & Exposition (ACE) and marked the founding of AWWA.
1905
Standard Methods First Published
In 1905, the first edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater was published by the American Public Health Association (APHA). In 1925, AWWA joined APHA to publish the 6th edition. Today, Standard Methods is in its 24th edition, marking more than a century of dedication to water quality and analysis.
1908
AWWA’s First Standard
On May 12, 1908, AWWA’s first standard, C100 for Cast Iron Water Pipes and Special Castings, was adopted. Today, C100’s modern day counterpart is AWWA C151 Ductile-Iron Pipe, Centrifugally Cast.
1914
Journal AWWA is Born
AWWA’s flagship trade magazine, Journal AWWA, is born. Journal AWWA is the voice of the association and serves as a forum for thought leaders in the water and wastewater industry to learn about critical issues affecting water.
1920
Standards Council Formed
In 1920, the AWWA Standards Council was formed. Now, nearly 1,600 volunteer subject matter experts contribute to the development of 190+ standards that inform the water community and protect public health.
1943
Willing Water Mascot
In November 1943, the water conservation mascot of “Willing Water” was developed. This mascot served as a popular and fun reminder on the importance of water conservation and stewardship for decades.
1966
AWWA Research Foundation
In December 1966, the AWWA Research Foundation was founded. This foundation has since evolved into the Water Research Foundation we know today.
1967
DC Office
In 1967, AWWA opened a Washington D.C. office to further support its membership in environmental, legislative, and regulatory issues. Today, AWWA’s policy and advocacy team continue to support AWWA members on vital issues.
1970
U.S. EPA Formed
On December 2, 1970, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created.
1972
AWWA Headquarters Moves to Denver
In June 1972, Denver was selected as the new headquarters for AWWA, where it remains today.
1974
Safe Drinking Water Act
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was signed into law to protect public health by authorizing national enforceable standards for drinking water quality.
1975
Opflow is Born
AWWA published the first issue of Opflow, the water community’s primary network for operator-level works. The award-winning magazine presents new and established technologies and ideas that readers can apply to their operations.
1987
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act was amended and became law.
1991
Water for People
Water for People was founded by AWWA. Water for People is an international nonprofit that partners with local community members, businesses, and governments to help them bring sustainable water and sanitation systems to their communities.
1995
Partnership for Safe Water
In 1995, the Partnership for Safe Water was created as a response to the 1993 Cryptosporidium outbreak in Milwaukee. Today, Partnership Programs advance excellence in water utility management, operations, and performance.
2004
State of the Water Industry
In 2004, AWWA published its first State of the Water Industry Report. The report, which continues to publish today, annually provides trends and analysis of water community issues based on an authoritative survey.
2004
AWWA Utility Benchmarking
The AWWA Utility Benchmarking Program launched. Today, the program provides data-driven insights that help utilities hit their targets, compare their performance relative to peers, and shape the future of their utility management.
2006
AWWA’s 125th Anniversary
In 2006, AWWA celebrated the association’s 125th anniversary of work dedicated the world’s most vital resource.
2014
Community Engineering Corps
In 2014, the Community Engineering Corps was established as a collaboration between founding partners American Society of Civil Engineers, AWWA, and Engineers Without Borders-USA — powerhouses in the infrastructure and development sectors. The program is dedicated to engineering local impact and providing crucial pro-bono engineering and consulting services to underserved communities across the U.S.
2016
Partnership for Clean Water
The Partnership for Clean Water (PCW) was founded in 2016 as a parallel program to the Partnership for Safe Water. PCW provides optimization resources for wastewater utilities, bringing a One Water approach to optimization.
2019
AWWA Water Science
AWWA launched AWWA Water Science, the association’s online scholarly journal.
2020
Standards Council 100th Anniversary
In 2020, the AWWA Standards Council celebrated 100 years of dedicated service to public health.
2021
Source Water Protection Week
September 26, 2021, AWWA celebrated the first-ever Source Water Protection Week.
2022
Water 2050
On March 10, 2022, AWWA launched the Water 2050 initiative. By engaging in thoughtful, intentional, and inclusive discourse resulting in bold, achievable goals, 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 community.
2023
Transformative Water Leadership Academy
The Transformative Water Leadership Academy, a collaboration between AWWA and the WaterNow Alliance, welcomed the program’s inaugural cohort in 2023. The program is where the next generation of water utility leaders focus on the foundations of sustainable community leadership.
2024
SDWA 50th Anniversary
In 2024, the water community and AWWA celebrated 50 years of safe drinking water while looking ahead to future improvements of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Leadership & Governance
AWWA is led by a volunteer Board of Directors that includes representatives from each of its 43 geographic sections. The Executive Committee of the Board includes chairs of six advisory councils and past, present, and future volunteer presidents. AWWA’s volunteer leadership works closely with AWWA staff to fulfill the association’s mission as established in its strategic plan.
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Volunteer & Shape AWWA’s Future
Volunteering with AWWA offers a fulfilling opportunity to contribute to the water community. Whether it is through your local section, serving on a council or committee, or perhaps mentoring a young professional, volunteers can make meaningful connections and give back. AWWA’s volunteer program is designed to match your interests with impactful opportunities, ensuring that your time and knowledge can contribute to building a better world through better water.
Volunteer Opportunities
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AWWA’s 2030 Strategic Plan
AWWA’s Board of Directors approved the 2030 Strategic Plan which will help lead AWWA into the future.
VISION: A better world through better water
MISSION: Providing solutions to effectively manage water, the world’s most vital resource
CORE PRINCIPLES: Protect Public Health and the Environment | Strengthen Public Trust | Advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging | Inspire Innovation | Engage Globally | Shape Water’s Future
Download the 2030 Plan
Member Experience
AWWA will be the association of choice in the water community for member experience and professional growth
- Enhance the value experience for existing and prospective members
- Strengthen the relationship between the Association and its Sections to increase value and retain and recruit members
- Champion a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging to empower members to better serve their unique communities
- Boost opportunities for engagement among professionals from all water disciplines, international participants, and other water stakeholders
Organizational Stewardship
AWWA will effectively leverage its resources to advance its mission
- Govern AWWA effectively, transparently, and accountably
- Enhance the Association’s financial health and its investments in the organization
- Elevate the collaborative relationship between the Association and its Sections for effective operations
- Optimize the Association’s programs and policies for relevance, value, and strategic alignment
- Invest in volunteer and staff leadership capabilities to support AWWA’s long-term development
Knowledge Creation & Exchange
AWWA will be the world’s leading and trusted resource on water
- Create and share best practices, innovative solutions, and educational resources to enrich the water workforce and broader water community
- Use transformational technology to deliver and expand access to AWWA’s exceptional professional content
- Provide inclusive and accessible opportunities for members, Sections, and global water professionals to collaborate, innovate, and exchange knowledge
- Partner to develop forward thinking knowledge that fosters a successful and sustainable water future
Water Policy Leadership
AWWA will be the credible and influential voice in water
- Use AWWA’s scientific credibility to inform legislative and regulatory decision makers
- Bolster public trust and appreciation for the value of water through effective communication and community engagement
- Collaborate with sector partners, government representatives, and advocates to develop affordable, equitable, and sustainable policy solutions
- Support Sections seeking to advance Association and state/provincial water policy objectives
- Advance innovative policy solutions to solve water challenges
Join the Team
At AWWA, you will find purpose, great benefits, a collaborative culture, and inspiring work. AWWA serves more than 50,000 professionals who keep water safe and clean, and flowing to the taps of homes and businesses in North America and beyond.
AWWA Culture
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AWWA’s List of Requests for Proposals
TEC Project 2025 RFP Water Conservation Communications and Marketing Strategies Guide:
The TEC Project, “Water Conservation Communications and Marketing Strategies Guide”, aims to make timely updates to AWWA’s outdated Water Communications Conservation Guide (2010), aligning it with the communication needs of today’s utilities and their conservation programs. Under the revival and renaming of this outdated guide, updates will include integrating social media platforms into communication campaigns, developing tailored strategies catered for diverse conservation programs and communities, providing new example materials, and guidance on developing key performance indicators to measure communication effectiveness. This revision will ensure that utilities are equipped with the necessary tools to effectively engage their communities in adopting water-use changes, which will ultimately help in securing a sustainable water future.
Please contact research@awwa.org for full access to the current Water Conservation Communications Guide.
TEC Project 2025 RFP Revision of the AWWA’s Small System Field Guide:
Small system operators, owners, and managers are often the same person, and the scope of knowledge that they must have to run a system is vast. While AWWA has many operator resources for the water sector, its book “Small Systems Field Guide” is unique in that it is intended as a one-stop resource for common small system issues. The first edition of the field guide was published in 2014 and requires updating. There are references to manuals that have since been revised and need to be reconciled, regulatory issues from the EPA that need to be updated with recent agency actions, cybersecurity best practices and other emergency preparedness topics that need to be addressed, and new water treatment challenges (like PFAS) that aren’t covered. The intent of this project is to solicit services from a water sector consultant who will manage the revision of this field guide in consultation with AWWA’s identified subject matter experts, selected by the Small Systems Division to serve on a Project Advisory Committee (PAC).
TEC Project 2025 RFP Level of Progress Survey in Utility Asset Management
AWWA has surveyed the level of asset management (AM) maturity every five years, beginning in 2015 and again in 2020. This project will align with the 5‐year schedule by completing the survey of utilities in 2025. For select utilities that score very high maturity in the topics for 2025, approximately eight short case studies will be developed about their best practices. The final deliverable of this project will be a comprehensive report on the 2025 survey results, which will include a comparison to the previous survey results. This report and the case studies will be made available through the asset management resource page, journal articles, webinars, or through conferences as special topic sessions or workshops.
