The International Water Association is the network of water professionals striving for a world in which water is wisely, sustainably and equitably managed.
International Water Association
Overview
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Founded Since 1964
Company Description
The International Water Association
Drawing exceptional professionals from more than 140 countries, the membership of the International Water Association (IWA) brings together scientists, researchers, technology companies, water and wastewater utilities, and wider stakeholders involved in water management.
As the largest membership association for the global water sector, the Association was launched in its current identity in 2000, building on a 75-year heritage of connecting water professionals around the world. IWA is an international reference for the water and sanitation industry.
The IWA membership communities contribute and develop the IWA Agendas. Meet us at the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition, the IWA Water and Development Congress & Exhibition and our Specialist Groups Conferences worldwide. IWA is science-driven and sets the agenda with the publication of 12 scientific journals and 40+ books per year by IWA Publishing.
Water underpins every aspect of human and environmental existence. The severe water challenges facing the world today require an unprecedented global response. IWA members are situated in 140 countries worldwide, forming the largest international network of water professionals working towards a water wise world.
Innovative, solutions- and service- oriented, we work across a range of areas that contribute to the progression of water management worldwide. Transformation cannot take place on its own in a vacuum. Rather the ideas for solutions to these challenges will be fomented and rigorously debated among the IWA’s institutions and membership.
The International Water Association is an open, yet ordered platform in which both innovators and adopters of new technologies and approaches can generate creative friction. It is a place for diffusion, benchmarking and evidence.
Our programmes develop research and projects focused on solutions for water and wastewater management; we organise world-class events that bring the latest science, technology and best practice to the water sector at large; we work to place water on the global political agenda and to influence best practice in regulation and policy making; and we do this via the IWA’s global membership.
Learn more about the IWA Strategic Plan 2019-2024(available for download in English, French, Chinese, Spanish, Japanese and Portuguese) to understand how we will achieve a stronger culture of service, and a unique value proposition for our members through:
- Professional Development programs
- Leadership Development, inside and outside the association
- Agenda setting programmatic work to generate pride in our membership
- Global networking opportunities for members to connect with people and ideas.
IWA – a 75-Year Heritage
An Influential Gathering of People & Ideas
In the run-up to the 2022 IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition, in Copenhagen, Denmark, the International Water Association has been revisiting its history which, as of 2022, extends back 75 years. The organisation’s origins can be traced back to two major worldwide professional/technical water associations: the International Water Supply Association (IWSA), formed in 1947, and the International Association of Water Pollution Research (IAWPR), founded in 1962/1965. In 1980, IAWPR was renamed the International Association of Water Pollution Research and Control (IAWPRC), and in 1990, it evolved again as the International Association of Water Quality (IAWQ). The International Water Association (IWA) was founded in 1999 as a result of the merger of IWSA and IAWQ.
This span of time and involvement of multiple organisations means IWA’s history is a complicated topic. The 75-year landmark prompted an initiative to better document this history. In a major first step, former IWA Executive Director Paul Reiter has undertaken and led extensive research to set down the history in written form. The result of that work is set out in the resources available below.
Before IWA, the two associations (IWSA and IAWQ) had separate causes, cultures, and working methods. The focus of IWSA was on drinking water and it aimed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of water supply while simultaneously it was monitoring the emerging regulatory standards. By the 1930’s, most advanced countries had developed dependable drinking water solutions, at least in the bigger cities. The focus of IAWPR/IAWQ was on wastewater treatment. In terms of research and science on the aquatic environment and the effects of water pollution, the means and methods of pollution were in their early stages in the 1950’s.
The two organisations considered and eventually decided to join forces in 1999. The ensuing united associations could capitalise on the qualities of each of the predecessor organisations, resulting in the new, vibrant, and resilient IWA that exists today. Download the resources available on this page to learn more about our 75-year heritage.
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