Parnering Agreement - AWWA & CWWA

Partnering Agreements
American Waterworks Association and CWWA

On June 20th, 1999, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Annual Conference in Chicago was the setting for the official signing of an important "Partnering Agreement" between the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) and AWWA. AWWA President Rod Holme and CWWA President signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations.

Partnering Agreement

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) seek, through this agreement to establish a strong partnership between our organizations. Our common purposes are to improve the quality of life through the protection and enhancement of the water environment. It is our common objective that all people may have access to clean safe water, and that suitable habitat for diverse aquatic species be preserved. Our common methods are to advance education, science and technology, to disseminate technical information, to increase public understanding, and to promote sound public policy. The AWWA’s Canadian Affairs Committee (CAC) and its Canadian Sections and CWWA will cooperate in regard to liaison functions with Canadian federal government agencies or bodies.

We intend to do so by:

Working to identify ways to better serve our members through collaborative efforts.
Fostering joint cooperation between public and private sector organizations with respect to investing in our publicly owned water and wastewater infrastructure.
Developing collaborative efforts in regard to our respective federal, and state, or provincial regulatory and legislative initiatives.
Working together to foster the watershed approach to water quality management.
Fostering greater public awareness of water quality and quantity issues through collaborative efforts.

AWWA / CWWA Protocol

This protocol identifies specific projects, activities, and joint interests which the respective signatories have identified as initial steps and activities consistent with the goals and objectives established in the partnering agreement. We agree to pursue them in furtherance and priorities of the signatories.

Agree to a pricing reciprocity policy which will extend member prices to our respective members for attendance at workshops and meetings presented by either national organization.
Develop a marketing protocol which will result in the exchange of information for purposes of marketing events, publications, and other opportunities for the respective memberships.
Encourage Association/Section collaboration on joint meetings, projects, and activities.
Establish and maintain direct links on each respective Web page.
Seek opportunities for collaboration and/or partnership in the development and implementation of seminars, conferences, or symposiums consistent with the strategic goals and objectives of each organization.
Ensure effective communications between each association and their respective memberships about the partnership and its goals and objectives.
Seek opportunities for collaboration and/or partnerships in production of publications on subjects of mutual interest to members of both organizations.
Communicate and collaborate on government affairs issues of common interest by appointing joint working groups to develop positions on issues such as water quality criteria, source water protection, and clean water action plan initiatives.
Seek to cooperate on international activities of each organization by, for example, providing for reciprocal participation in each organization’s international meetings and conferences.

AWWA / CWWA Goals

While considering each organization’s responsibilities and roles, integrate the activities of CWWA and its Member Associations and AWWA and Canadian sections in areas of government affairs, training and operator certification and research

Ensure regular formal communication between the boards of CWWA and its Member Associations, and AWWA, and its Canadian Sections, including the AWWA’s CAC.
Promote membership in each other's organizations.
The representative on the CWWA Board of each AWWA Canadian Section that is a member regional Association of CWWA should, whenever feasible, also be that Section’s CAC member-at-large.
Promote research and the use of research.
Encourage all utilities to participate in the development of policies and positions on water issues and the regulation of water.

To achieve these goals, AWWA and CWWA agree to:

CWWA being a member of AWWA and AWWA being a member of CWWA.
CWWA encouraging its members to also be members of AWWA and AWWARF.
AWWA encouraging its members to belong to CWWA. (Note: CWWA and AWWA will pursue methods to encourage joint membership, e.g., reduce membership fees for utilities that belong to both organizations.)
AWWA encouraging each of the Canadian Sections to participate in CWWA committees.
CAC encouraging each of the Canadian sections of AWWA to be active members of CWWA.
CWWA and its Member Associations and AWWA’s Canadian Sections encouraging their members to participate in the AWWA QualServe and Partnership For Safe Drinking Water Programs as part of benchmarking and continuous improvement.
AWWA to encourage Canadian Sections to work with their respective provincial representatives on the Federal Provincial Sub-committee on Drinking Water, in concert with CWWA.
Encourage utilities to enhance the quality of the services they provide.