The Shape of AWWA

It took less than a minute on Oct. 26, 1881. In that moment, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and the Clanton Gang engaged in the historic gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Since then, numerous movies have been produced and books published about this fateful incident in Tombstone, Ariz.

While much less documented, another significant, life-changing event occurred seven months earlier. It took days, not seconds, 1,400 miles away from Tombstone. The spot was Engineers’ Hall at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. Twenty-two water utility employees from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee gathered for the first time to share best practices in water treatment, leading to the creation of the American Water Works Association. Together, they drafted and adopted AWWA's original constitution, stating the organization's purpose was “to exchange information about water-works management and to advance both consumers and water companies, and for the purpose of securing the economy and uniformity in the operations of water-works.”

During the 143 years of AWWA's history, its members have grown from the original 22 to more than 50,000. Also, AWWA is now known as the leading standards-writing organization for the water sector. The first AWWA standard was published in 1908 on the Specifications for Cast Iron Water Pipes and Special Castings. Today, AWWA offers water professionals more than 190 ANSI (American National Standards Institute)-approved standards.

As AWWA's membership grew, it recognized the benefit of disseminating knowledge that originated from the association as well as from local cohort groups. This strategic realization brought AWWA to create its first local section, the New York Section, in 1914. Two years later, there were eight AWWA sections, including one in Canada (which encompassed the entire country). By 1930, AWWA needed a headquarters office, which it established in New York City, along with a newly hired staff. AWWA now has 43 sections that span geographically from Maine in the eastern United States to Alaska on the western edge, and from Canada to the north to Mexico to the south. Add to that an association staff of 150, located in Denver and Washington, D.C.

During the second half of the 1900s, AWWA focused on the critical need for research about water treatment and management. Its board of directors formed a water research foundation in 1966. Today, The Water Research Foundation is a One Water organization, delivering research programming to help address the water sector's current water challenges. Similarly, in 1991, AWWA leaders heeded a calling to help improve water systems around the world. These leaders envisioned, and AWWA created, Water For People, which is now a highly regarded global nonprofit that addresses the global water crisis in nine countries in Latin America, Asia, and Africa.

Along the lines of looking forward and spreading water knowledge beyond the boundaries of North America, AWWA established its presence in India with AWWAIndia in 2015. And in 2022, AWWA launched its visionary goal of charting the future of water out to the year 2050. This initiative is called Water2050.

AWWA is led by its board of directors, which includes 64 members. This board, while large, still maintains the core value of the 22 founders of AWWA in 1881: the sharing of best practices. Of course, the scope of this endeavor is broader in 2024 than in 1881; as a result, the shape of the AWWA board reflects the needs of the current vision.

The board is led by the board president who, once elected by the board members, first serves a year as president-elect, then a year as president, and then in a final year of board service as immediate past president. The chairs of each of AWWA's six councils also sit on the board. These councils include the International Council, Manufacturers and Associates Council, Public Affairs Council, Standards Council, Technical and Education Council, and the Water Utility Council.

The largest component of the board has 45 directors from the 43 sections of AWWA, along with four directors-at-large. The board's six vice presidents are selected from these 49 directors. The treasurer, Water Research Foundation chair, three Young Professional advisors, and the CEO round out the remaining members of the board.

One of the many responsibilities of the AWWA board is the creation and adoption of AWWA's five-year strategic plan. This past June, the 2030 Strategic Plan was adopted. As was the case in 1881, it continues AWWA's legacy of exchanging information about the “operations of water-works” as well as many modern-day water challenges.

Throughout time, the “shape of AWWA” has been molded by its members and their drive to make a better world through better water. And while we might not show up in movies or best-selling novels, we’ll continue to make history.