The American Water Works
Association (AWWA) and the Water Environment Federation (WEF) have announced an
agreement to more closely collaborate on programs, services and major policy
issues.
The resolution states that the organizations “resolve to support and lead, as
necessary, an effort to develop a cohesive voice for the water community by
encouraging collaboration between our members, coordinating programs and
services, and developing consensus on major water policy
issues.”
The agreement grew from a conversation among AWWA’s and WEF’s presidential
officers and treasurers, who gathered in Washington,
D.C. during the fall of 2010 to
explore opportunities to work together. WEF’s board of directors approved the
resolution at its Nov. 10 meeting, and AWWA’s board completed the approval
process Jan. 24 at its meeting in San
Antonio. With the resolution in place, leaders from
both organizations will develop a work plan for 2011 and subsequent years to
fulfill the spirit of the agreement.
“This resolution enhances our existing efforts to work more closely together to
advance sound water policy, the interests of our members and the publics they
serve,” says WEF president Jeannette Brown. “Both AWWA and WEF are excited to
explore future partnerships that make the water profession’s collective voice
even stronger.”
“The water industry has changed in recent years, and our work is no longer
easily defined as either ‘water’ or ‘wastewater,’” remarks AWWA president
Joseph Mantua. “AWWA and WEF recognize that, now more than ever, increased
collaboration will benefit members from both organizations, and improve our
collective effectiveness, particularly in matters of public
policy.”
AWWA and WEF already work together on many initiatives, including the Young
Professionals Summit, the Utility Management Conference, the Work for Water
workforce development project, and in many other areas. As a first step under
the new resolution, the organizations recently announced plans to combine
forces for the 2011 Water Matters! Fly In, which will bring more than 150
leaders from both organizations to Washington,
D.C., in April to address
Congress on key water issues.