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 ResourcesHenrico County – Turning PFAS Challenges into Community Solutions
The County of Henrico, located in central Virginia, is home to approximately 334,000 residents. Henrico’s Department of Public Utilities provides water and sewer service to much of the County. In the more rural eastern portion of the County, however, many residents still rely on privately owned drinking water wells.
In October 2021, Henrico County was notified by the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality that a neighboring locality had detected elevated levels of PFAS in its drinking water source, the Chickahominy River. The neighboring locality’s source water intake is located downstream of Henrico County, with a significant portion of the Chickahominy River watershed—including the White Oak Creek Swamp—located within Henrico’s eastern region.
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Following this notification, Henrico County’s Department of Public Utilities moved quickly to validate the findings. Staff trained in the specialized process of PFAS sample collection collected approximately 20 surface water samples throughout the Chickahominy River watershed and the White Oak Creek Swamp. These efforts confirmed the neighboring locality’s findings and helped guide the next phase of the project.
Henrico then launched a comprehensive community outreach campaign that included public meetings, press releases, and direct communication with residents living in the affected area. The County also established a program to test private drinking water wells at no cost to homeowners. As awareness of the program spread, demand for testing quickly grew to more than 200 samples during the first month. By 2025, Henrico County had collected nearly 400 PFAS samples from 335 residential properties, all at no cost to residents.
In addition to providing free well testing, the County developed a program to address wells with PFAS concentrations exceeding regulatory thresholds. When exceedances are identified, Henrico installs a whole-house filtration system at no cost to the homeowner and covers the ongoing maintenance costs. To date, the County has installed 28 whole-house filtration systems, with four additional installations scheduled.
NACWA awarded the Henrico County Department of Public Utilities a 2026 National Environmental Achievement Award in the Public Service 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.