Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies

Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies
Name	Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies
Formation	1983
Type	Trade association
Headquarters	United States
Region served	North America
Membership	Public water utilities
Leader title	Executive Director

Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies

The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies is a U.S.-based trade association representing large public water suppliers and water utility systems; it engages with federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and legislative bodies including the United States Congress and the United States Senate on drinking water policy. Founded amid regulatory and infrastructure debates involving stakeholders like the American Water Works Association and the National Association of Water Companies, the association interacts with municipal entities such as the City of Los Angeles, New York City, and Chicago water departments while coordinating with regional bodies like the Great Lakes Commission and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

History

The organization was established in 1983 during a period of regulatory reform involving the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act, responding to challenges faced by large suppliers including those in Washington, D.C., Houston, and Philadelphia. Early efforts intersected with policy debates influenced by figures and institutions such as the Environmental Council of the States, the Office of Management and Budget, and congressional committees such as the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Over time the association expanded its role to address infrastructure investment discussions involving the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and funding programs related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Mission and Activities

The association’s stated mission emphasizes protecting public health through reliable water delivery and regulatory clarity, working alongside groups like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Activities include technical guidance, regulatory comment letters submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency, and convening stakeholders such as the American Public Works Association, the National League of Cities, and state-level agencies like the California State Water Resources Control Board. It also addresses challenges posed by disasters referenced in events like Hurricane Katrina, Superstorm Sandy, and droughts affecting regions such as California and the Colorado River Basin.

Membership and Governance

Membership comprises large municipal and regional water suppliers including utilities from metropolitan areas like Los Angeles County, Cook County (Illinois), and Maricopa County, Arizona; affiliates have included systems associated with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. Governance structures mirror nonprofit boards similar to those of the American Water Works Association and the National Association of Counties, with an executive committee and policy committees that coordinate with legal advisors familiar with statutes such as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Administrative Procedure Act. Leadership transitions have occasionally involved former utility executives and public officials with ties to entities like the U.S. Department of the Interior and state governors’ offices.

Policy Advocacy and Regulatory Work

The association actively participates in rulemaking processes before agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, filing comments on regulations related to contaminants referenced in studies by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Geological Survey. It advocates on funding and infrastructure legislation debated in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, engaging with appropriations processes tied to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and programs operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture rural utilities service. The group collaborates with legal coalitions and trade counterparts such as the Chamber of Commerce, Natural Resources Defense Council, and state attorneys general in litigation and amicus briefs concerning standards, compliance schedules, and enforcement actions.

Programs and Initiatives

Initiatives include technical workshops, peer-to-peer exchanges, and resilience planning modeled after frameworks from the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Water Security Division. Programs address asset management, source water protection, and emergency response coordination as seen in playbooks produced alongside partners like the American Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The association has supported pilot projects and research collaborations with academic institutions such as Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, and the University of Michigan on topics including contaminant treatment, lead service line replacement, and climate adaptation for metropolitan supply systems.

Partnerships and Collaborations

Collaborative work spans alliances with engineering and standards bodies like the American Society of Civil Engineers, standards organizations such as ASTM International, and public health institutions including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. It also partners with regional consortia like the Great Lakes Commission, Colorado River Board of California, and nonprofit advocacy organizations including the Environmental Defense Fund and the American Rivers organization to advance source protection, funding strategies, and regulatory reforms. International exchanges have been conducted with counterparts in the European Union, the World Bank, and multilateral forums addressing urban water security.

Category:Water supply organizations