American Water Works Association
Encyclopedia
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
professional organization dedicated to the improvement of water quality and supply. Founded in 1881, it claims a membership of around 56,000 members worldwide as of 2010.
AWWA has become the largest organization of water professionals in the world, representing more than 100 countries. AWWA members represent the full spectrum of the water community: water utilities, treatment plant operators and managers, scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
s, environmentalists
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
, manufacturers
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
, academics
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
, regulators, and others with an interest in water supply and public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
. AWWA works through advocacy, communications, conferences, education and training, science and technology, and local action among 43 AWWA Sections throughout North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Publications
To deliver its message concerning water and related subjects, the AWWA publishes Journal AWWA and also 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 StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for the entire organization and several region
Region
Region is most commonly found as a term used in terrestrial and astrophysics sciences also an area, notably among the different sub-disciplines of geography, studied by regional geographers. Regions consist of subregions that contain clusters of like areas that are distinctive by their uniformity...
al meetings and conferences around the world. The association provides reliable information regarding technology, trends, and news through its periodicals, website, and media outreach. AWWA publishes standards, books, manuals, videos, electronic databases, and reports for use by water professionals and others.
The need to create a way for creating a benchmark methodolgy the AWWA began to develop 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 a significant source for scientific and management reference resources for the drinking water community. Currently, there are over 150 AWWA Standards covering filtration
Filtration
Filtration is commonly the mechanical or physical operation which is used for the separation of solids from fluids by interposing a medium through which only the fluid can pass...
materials, treatment chemicals, disinfection
Disinfection
Disinfectants are substances that are applied to non-living objects to destroy microorganisms that are living on the objects. Disinfection does not necessarily kill all microorganisms, especially nonresistant bacterial spores; it is less effective than sterilisation, which is an extreme physical...
practices, meters, valve
Valve
A valve is a device that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically pipe fittings, but are usually discussed as a separate category...
s, utility management practices, storage tank
Storage tank
A storage tank is a container, usually for holding liquids, sometimes for compressed gases . The term can be used for reservoirs , and for manufactured containers. The usage of the word tank for reservoirs is common or universal in Indian English, American English and moderately common in British...
s, pumps, and ductile iron
Ductile iron
Ductile iron, also known as ductile cast iron, nodular cast iron, spheroidal graphite iron, spherulitic graphite cast iron and SG iron, is a type of cast iron invented in 1943 by Keith Millis...
, steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
, concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
, asbestos-cement, and plastic pipe and fittings.
Water industry resources
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 benchmarkingBenchmarking
Benchmarking is the process of comparing one's business processes and performance metrics to industry bests and/or best practices from other industries. Dimensions typically measured are quality, time and cost...
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 publications and 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.
Drinking water standard development
In May 1985, the United States Environmental Protection AgencyUnited States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
entered into a cooperative agreement with a consortium led by NSF International
NSF International
NSF International is an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based not-for-profit public health and environmental organization that provides standards development, product certification, auditing, education and risk management services.-History:...
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.
Water for People
In February 1991, AWWA founded Water For PeopleWater For People
Water For People, founded in 1991 by the American Water Works Association , is a nonprofit international development organization, which helps people in developing countries improve their quality of life by supporting the development of locally sustainable drinking water resources, sanitation...
, a non-profit international development organization that helps people in developing countries
Developing country
A developing country, also known as a less-developed country, is a nation with a low level of material well-being. Since no single definition of the term developing country is recognized internationally, the levels of development may vary widely within so-called developing countries...
improve their quality of life by supporting the development of locally sustainable drinking water resources, sanitation facilities, and health and hygiene education programs.
U.S. national drinking water week
In 1998, AWWA worked with Representative Robert Roe and Senator Dennis DeConciniDennis DeConcini
Dennis Webster DeConcini is a former Democratic U.S. Senator from Arizona. Son of former Arizona Supreme Court Judge Evo Anton DeConcini, he represented Arizona in the United States Senate from 1977 until 1995....
to sponsor a resolution naming the first week of May as "National Drinking Water Week." A joint congressional resolution declaration occurred, and was signed into existence by President Ronald Reagan.
See also
- American Water LandmarkAmerican Water LandmarkAn American Water Landmark is a landmark within the United States or Canada that is a historic location and is associated in some way with water...
- Illinois Section American Water Works AssociationIllinois Section American Water Works AssociationThe Illinois Section American Water Works Association is part of the national American Water Works Association. Established in 1909, the ISAWWA currently represents over 1770 public water supplies of all sizes...
- Water managementWater managementWater management is the activity of planning, developing, distributing and managing the optimum use of water resources. In an ideal world. water management planning has regard to all the competing demands for water and seeks to allocate water on an equitable basis to satisfy all uses and demands...
- Water supply and sanitation in the United StatesWater supply and sanitation in the United StatesIssues that affect water supply and sanitation in the United States include water scarcity, pollution, a backlog of investment, concerns about the affordability of water for the poorest, and a rapidly retiring workforce...
- Water For PeopleWater For PeopleWater For People, founded in 1991 by the American Water Works Association , is a nonprofit international development organization, which helps people in developing countries improve their quality of life by supporting the development of locally sustainable drinking water resources, sanitation...