Who We Are
For 50 years, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) has been the nation’s recognized leader in legislative, regulatory and legal advocacy on the full spectrum of clean water issues, as well as a top technical resource for water management, sustainability and ecosystem protection interests.
NACWA represents public wastewater and stormwater agencies of all sizes nationwide. The Association's unique and growing network strengthens the advocacy voice for all member utilities, and ensures they have the tools necessary to provide affordable and sustainable clean water for all.
Our vision is to represent every utility as a NACWA member, helping build a strong and sustainable clean water future.
What We Offer
Community
Our ever-growing member community is our greatest strength, with member utilities of every size--small, medium and large--and affiliates from every region of the US. The Association's multiple venues for in-person & digital peer-to-peer networking, high-impact events & work groups/committees, national awards programs, dedicated staff and more allow members to choose their level of engagement, and help take their organizations to the next level.For more information visit Member Benefits
Advocacy
As the nation’s recognized leader in legislative, regulatory and legal advocacy, we are the clean water sector's collective voice to EPA, Congress and government agencies nationwide. With open communication and a collaborative environment, ensure that NACWA's representation is inclusive and pragmatic as well as potent and forward-looking.
For more information visit Advocacy & AnalysisResources
Our wide array of publications provide practical, usable information for clean water utilities and affiliates to innovate and improve their operations, while maintaining affordability for all the communities they serve. Our regular advocacy alerts, legislative and regulatory news & updates, legal references, white papers and more ensure that clean water utilities and affiliates have the cutting knowledge base to make big decisions and plan for a clean water future.
For more information visit ResourcesCity and County of Honolulu Department of Environmental Services Invests in the Future Workforce
Building the next generation of wastewater professionals requires more than technical training—it requires a long-term investment in people. The City and County of Honolulu Department of Environmental Services’ (ENV) Training, Development, and Retention (TDR) Program exemplifies that commitment by providing participants with the training, experience, skills, and certification pathways needed for successful careers in wastewater operations. Developed in partnership with Brown and Caldwell and supported by ENV Director Roger Babcock, the program offers an intensive educational experience that prepares participants for meaningful careers while strengthening the future of Honolulu’s wastewater workforce.
The program spanned several months and was divided into different weekly learning formats. “Classroom weeks” provided conventional instruction led by subject matter experts and focused on wastewater topics and foundational theory in process relationships, mathematics, chemistry, microbiology, and the fundamentals of pumps, valves, hydraulics, and instrumentation. These lessons were reinforced through “field weeks” and “on-the-job training weeks” at each of ENV’s nine wastewater treatment plants, giving participants hands-on experience with a variety of systems and unique processes.
The TDR Program helped empower participants to successfully enter ENV’s workforce. Since 2022, the program has graduated 55 trainees across four cohorts, including new recruits from local communities representing diverse backgrounds, including Native Hawaiian, Samoan, and Filipino communities. The initiative also created new career pathways within ENV by enabling entry-level employees to enroll in the program and gain the experience needed for careers in wastewater operations.
Upon graduation, trainees received Continuing Education Units that allowed them to take their Grade 1 and Grade 2 certification exams after completing one year of experience. This benefit helped participants accelerate their career progression with the advanced knowledge gained through the program. As of August 2025, 60% of eligible graduates passed the Hawaii State Licensure for Wastewater Operations exam on their first attempt—significantly exceeding the state's average passing rate of 31%.
The TDR Program represented a transformative investment in ENV’s workforce and its commitment to public service. By equipping participants with the tools, training, and support needed to succeed, the program addressed multiple community needs by creating career pathways in environmental stewardship while building a robust and resilient wastewater operations workforce dedicated to protecting public health and the environment.
NACWA awarded the City & County of Honolulu a 2026 National Environmental Achievement Award in the Workforce Development category for its impactful program. Congratulations to everyone involved!
Board Of Directors
NACWA's Board of Directors embodies the clean water sector's most accomplished leadership, informed by decades of collective experience and expertise in water utility operation and management. The Board leads NACWA's governance, allowing it to serve its members with focus and integrity.
Staff Directory
The Association is its people. And NACWA's dedicated staff defines the organization's commitment to passionate advocacy, forward thinking leadership and ethical service to members and the clean water community as a whole. They're dedicated and energetic. They're also a lot of fun. Give us a ring...
Member Agencies & Affiliates
The strength of NACWA is its member agencies and affiliates, from publicly-owned wastewater treatment agencies to corporate affiliates from throughout the clean water management chain. Our unique and growing network strengthens the advocacy voice for all members, ensuring they have the tools and expertise necessary to help shape the clean water landscape both locally and nationally.
Committees
NACWA’s committee structure invites Association members to work collectively to shape national clean water policy. NACWA’s committees not only help develop the Association's positions on policy and legislation, they help build and foster NACWA's peer-to-peer networking strength, while achieving key initiatives that benefit all members.
Awards
Each year, NACWA recognizes the outstanding commitment, innovation and achievements of individuals and agencies through our national awards programs. From contributions to environmental protection, to diligence in compliance, to even intangible positive impact. NACWA is honored to highlight service excellence within the clean water sector.
Join NACWA
Engage and collaborate with member utilities of all sizes—small, medium and large—with affiliates/stakeholders from all regions of the country. Membership is not only a path to improving operations or enhancing professional development, it’s a unique opportunity to join the strongest unified voice for shared clean water interests nationwide.