American Water Works Association

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AWWA

American Water Works Association (AWWA) is an international nonprofit professional organization dedicated to the improvement of drinking water quality and supply. It was founded in 1881 and, as of 2007, there are approximately 60,000 AWWA members world-wide.

AWWA is the largest organization of water professionals in the world, representing more than 100 countries. AWWA 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.

AWWA publishes the journal, Journal AWWA. AWWA also publishes standard practice and testing articles for use by industry. Standing committees periodically review and update the standards as required. An annual conference is held in the United States for the entire organization and several regional meeting and conferences around the world.

AWWA accomplishes its mission through advocacy, communications, conferences, education and training, science and technology, and local action among 43 AWWA Sections. The five Canadian Sections include Ontario, Atlantic Canada, British Columbia, Quebec and Western Canada. AWWA provides a constant flow of reliable information on technology, trends, and news through its periodicals, Web site and media outreach. AWWA publishes a vast reservoir of standards, books, manuals, videos, electronic databases, and reports for use by water professionals and others.

AWWA develops industry standards for products, processes and best practices that advance public health and safety. The AWWA Standards Program has provided standards since 1908 and is recognized internationally as the ultimate source for scientific and management reference resources for the drinking water community. Currently, there are 132 AWWA standards covering filtration materials, treatment chemicals, disinfection practices, meters, valves, storage tanks, and ductile iron, steel, concrete, asbestos-cement, and plastic pipe and fittings.

Through QualServe, a voluntary quality improvement program for water utilities, AWWA helps water and wastewater facilities improve overall operations and increase customer satisfaction and confidence on a continuing basis. QualServe provides a self-assessment instrument, peer review and benchmarking to help utilities evaluate themselves and enhance performance.

AWWA offers numerous opportunities for people to meet, learn, and network at the international, national, and section levels. In addition to comprehensive conferences for water professionals, AWWA hosts a variety of workshops, symposia, teleconferences, and programs focused on specific aspects of water stewardship.

AWWA is a key resource for water professionals’ continuing education and development. Materials and instruction are available through a variety of media, from traditional seminars to online courses, teleconferences and webcasts.

Together, these core competencies distinguish AWWA as the authoritative resource for knowledge, information, and advocacy to improve the quality and supply of drinking water in North America and beyond. Through the collective strength of its members, AWWA helps everyone to become better stewards of water for the greatest good of the people and the environment.

[edit] Drinking Water Standard Development

In May 1985, the United States Environmental Protection Agency entered into a cooperative agreement with a consortium led by NSF International to develop voluntary third-party consensus standards and a certification program for all direct and indirect drinking water additives. Other members of the consortium include AWWA. The consortium is responsible for the cooperative effort of manufacturers, regulators, product users and other interested parties that develop and maintain the NSF standards.