About AWWA

Founded in 1881, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) is the world’s oldest and largest nonprofit scientific and educational society dedicated to the improvement of water quality and supply. AWWA’s more than 57,000 members represent the full spectrum of the drinking water community: treatment plant operators and managers, scientists, environmentalists, manufacturers, academicians, regulators, and others who hold genuine interest in water supply and public health. Membership includes more than 4,700 utilities that supply water to roughly 180 million people in North America.

Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with a Government Affairs office in Washington, D.C., AWWA is the authoritative resource for knowledge, information, and advocacy to improve the quality and supply of water in North America and beyond:

• Since 1908, AWWA has developed the industry standards that govern the operations of community tap water providers throughout the world.  Today, AWWA standards direct the use of 116 products and processes critical to the provision of safe drinking water.
• AWWA has joined with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other professional organizations in the drinking water community to create the “Partnership for Safe Water”.  The Partnership brings regulators and utilities together to improve water treatment practices and reduce the threat of contamination of community water supplies by the lethal parasite, Cryptosporidium.
• AWWA has also created the Utility Quality Programs to optimize the work and quality of water produced in utilities of all sizes across the country. AWWA offers the most extensive online learning program available on water issues to promote the continuing education of the nation’s water utility operators.
• AWWA conducts more than 50 conferences, workshops, seminars and teleconferences annually to educate the drinking water profession on wide-ranging issues including optimizing productivity, regulatory compliance, water science, contaminants, and management issues.
• Every year, AWWA’s Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE) is one of the largest meetings on water issues held anywhere in the world, drawing more than 12,000 attendees. 
• Through Water for People, AWWA and the drinking water profession promote the provision of safe drinking water around the world, particularly in underdeveloped countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
• AWWA has 43 sections in the United States, Canada and Mexico,
• AWWA’s four publications, Mainstream, Waterweek, Opflow and Journal AWWA, and its award-winning Web site, provide the drinking water community with extensive information on legislative actions, regulatory challenges and cutting-edge scientific research.
• AWWA provides consumer information as well, through www.drinktap.org.
• AWWA recently launched "Only Tap Water Delivers", a grassroots and media campaign to help water systems and local officials communicate about the value of tap water service to consumers, media and other stakeholders.