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 ResourcesWSSC Water’s Creative Virtual Platform Brings the Wastewater Treatment Experience to Local Classrooms
WSSC Water is among the nation’s largest water and wastewater utilities, serving 1.9 million residents in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties in Maryland. The bi-county utility is not only committed to providing safe and reliable drinking water to its customers while protecting the environment, but it is also dedicated to educating local schools on the vital role of water and wastewater utilities. WSSC Water shares its clean water mission with over 2,000 students and 100 educators annually. While those are impressive numbers, its service area is home to two of the largest school districts in Maryland, with over 400 public schools serving almost 300,000 students. WSSC Water was challenged keeping up with the demand for school programming and providing opportunities for student plant tours, so they sought a creative solution. 
WSSC Water's Education Outreach team created immersive Google Earth tours for two of their Water Resource Recovery Facilities - formerly known as wastewater treatment plants - to meet the high demand for plant tours impeded due to staffing and facility restrictions. The virtual platform allows students to explore all aspects of the plant and learn about the wastewater treatment process from the comfort of their classroom or home.
Thanks to 360-degree photos and Google satellite images, students can understand what happens to water after use and the science and engineering needed to return clean water to the tributaries of Chesapeake Bay. At the request of educators, WSSC Water also developed a facilitation guide to provide more in-depth information about wastewater treatment and sample activities for a more hands-on learning experience. Local educators reviewed all materials to ensure they met state standards.
WSSC Water’s Education Outreach team learned about using Google Earth Projects through a workshop hosted by NOAA’s Environmental Sciences Training Center and the American Geoscience Institute. The virtual tours were a success due to the assistance and expertise of plant staff, who ensured all content was accurate. The “Introduction to Wastewater Treatment” materials are accessible to those who request access via WSSC Water’s website: https://www.wsscwater.com/educationoutreach.
NACWA awarded WSSC Water a 2023 National Environmental Achievement Award in the Public Information & Education: Educational Program category for its creative and effective educational platform. 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.