International Water Association

For other uses, see IWA (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with International Water Resources Association.

International Water Association (IWA)

Founded| 7 September 1999; 24 years ago (1999-09-07)[1][2][3]
Type| Professional association
Focus| Sustainable water management
Location|

* London, United Kingdom

Origins| IWSA, IAWQ[4]

Area served

| Worldwide
Method| Conferences, publications, interest groups, task forces, forums

Key people

| Tom Mollenkopf (President); Kalanithy Vairavamoorthy (Executive Director)
Website| www.iwa-network.org

The International Water Association (IWA) is a self-governing nonprofit organization and knowledge hub for the water sector, connecting water professionals and companies to find solutions to the world's water challenges. IWA has a global secretariat in London, the United Kingdom, and a regional office in Chennai, India. The aim of the IWA is to function as an international network for water experts and promote standards and optimal approaches in sustainable water management. IWA has a membership comprising technology companies, water and wastewater utilities, and wider stakeholders in the fields of water services, infrastructure engineering and consulting as well as more than 10,000 individuals including scientists and researchers, with governing members in approximately 80 countries.

Two significant conferences are organized by the IWA biannually: the World Water Congress & Exhibition (WWDE) and the Water and Development Congress & Exhibition (WDCE). IWA works across a wide range of issues covering the full water cycle, with four programmes – Basins of the Future (water security), Cities of the Future (urban metabolism, sustainable city), Water and Sanitation Services (wastewater management) including Water policy and regulation – that work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and addressing the threat to sustainable water supplies posed by climate change.

## History[edit]

The IWA has its roots in the International Water Supply Association (IWSA), established in June 1947, and the International Association on Water Quality (IAWQ), which was originally formed as the International Association for Water Pollution Research (IAWPR) in 1962, formally constituted in June 1965, renamed International Association of Water Pollution Research and Control (IAWPRC) in March 1982 and adopting IAWQ in May 1992.[3][1] The two groups with separate causes, cultures, and working methods merged on 7 September 1999 to form the IWA, creating one international organization focused on the full water cycle.[1][3] The merger was motivated by the streamlining of operations and a desire to accumulate critical mass.[5] Legally signed and created at the end of July 1999, the IWA was ceremonially launched at the IWSA World Water Congress in Buenos Aires in September 1999.[5]

The first congress under the auspices of the new organization was held in Paris in 2000 with nearly 2.500 delegates attending 450 oral presentations, 750 poster presentations and 4 workshops and seminars.[5][6][7] In 2009, IWA launched a biannual Development Congress, with Mexico City as the inaugural location, as a key component of its comprehensive agenda to drive advancements in the developing world.[8]

In March 2015, AquaRating was announced as the world's first rating agency for the water sector by establishing the international standard for assessing water and sanitation services provision, jointly developed by the Inter-American Development Bank and the IWA.[9] On 1 September 2016, the World Bank and IWA announced the establishment of a partnership surrounding the reduction of water losses.[10]

## Publications[edit]

IWA Publishing Ltd. (IWAP) was established as the wholly owned subsidiary of the International Water Association in January 1999, anticipating the merger between IAWQ and IWSA, with the purpose of providing information services on all aspects of water, wastewater and related environmental fields.[11] In July 1999, its first new publication, Journal of Hydroinformatics, was launched.[11] The publishing programme includes The Source (the IWA membership magazine) and a broad range of peer reviewed journals (e.g. Water Science and Technology, Hydrology Research and Water Research) alongside books, research reports, manuals of best practice, and online services.[12]

## Conferences and workshops[edit]

Flags at the entrance to the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition, September 2022, at the Bella Center Copenhagen.[13]

IWA annually hosts more than 40 specialist conferences and workshops on various aspects of water management. Flagship events organized by the IWA include the World Water Congress & Exhibition (WWCE) since 2000 and the biannually Water and Development Congress & Exhibition, with its first edition held in 2009.[13][14][2] The 6th edition of the World Water Congress & Exhibition was visited by 4.500 participants from 94 different countries, which by the 12th edition in Copenhagen had increased to 9,000 participants from 102 countries.[8][15] The 6th edition of the Water & Development Congress & Exhibition was visited by 3,142 participants.[16]

### WWCE locations and dates[edit]

Edition | Name | Dates | Location | Notes | Refs

|
|
|
|
|

1 | 1st IWA World Water Congress | 3–7 July 2000 | Palais des congrès de Paris, Paris, France | Organized as an IAWQ style congress | [1][2]
2 | 2nd IWA World Water Congress | 15–19 October 2001 | Internationales Congress Centrum Berlin, Berlin, Germany | Organized as an IWSA style congress | [1]
3 | 3rd IWA World Water Congress | 7–12 April 2002 | Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne, Australia | Together with the Enviro 2002 Convention & Exhibition | [1][12]
4 | 4th IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition | 19–24 September 2004 | Palais des congrès de Marrakech [fr], Marrakech, Morocco |  | [1]
5 | 2006 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition | 10–14 September 2006 | Beijing International Convention Center, Beijing, People's Republic of China |  | [1]
6 | 2008 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition | 7–12 September 2008 | Austria Center Vienna, Vienna, Austria |  | [1]
7 | 2010 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition | 19–23 September 2010 | Palais des congrès de Montréal, Montreal, Canada |  | [1][2]
8 | 2012 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition | 16–21 September 2012 | Busan Exhibition and Convention Center, Busan, South Korea |  | [1]
9 | 2014 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition | 21–26 September 2014 | Centro de Congressos de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal |  | [1][17]
10 | 2016 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition | 9–14 October 2016 | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |  | [1][18]
11 | 2018 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition | 16–21 September 2018 | Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo, Japan |  | [19][20]
12 | 2022 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition | 11–15 September 2022 | Bella Center Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark | Due to the COVID-19, the congress was moved from 2020 to 2022 | [13][21]
13 | 2024 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition | 11–15 August 2024 | Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Canada |  | [22]
14 | 2026 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition | 2026 | Glasgow, Scotland |  |
15 | 2028 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition | 2028 | Kuching, Malaysia |  |
16 | 2030 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition | 2030 | São Paulo, Brazil |  |

### WDCE locations and dates[edit]

Edition | Name | Dates | Location | Notes | Refs

|
|
|
|
|

1 | 1st IWA Development Congress | 2009 | Mexico City, Mexico |  |
2 | 2nd IWA Development Congress | 2011 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |  |
3 | 3rd IWA Development Congress | 14–17 October 2013 | Nairobi, Kenya |  |
4 | 4th IWA Water and Development Congress & Exhibition | 18–22 October 2015 | King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre, Dead Sea, Jordan |  |
5 | 5th IWA Water and Development Congress & Exhibition | 13–16 November 2017 | Buenos Aires, Argentina |  |
6 | 6th IWA Water and Development Congress & Exhibition | 1–5 December 2019 | Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall, Colombo, Sri Lanka |  | [23]
7 | 7th IWA Water and Development Congress & Exhibition | 10–14 December 2023 | Kigali Convention Centre, Kigali, Rwanda |  | [24]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Paul Reiter (1 September 2022). "The Founding and Evolution of IWSA and IAWQ 1947 -1999 and the Creation of IWA in 2000 and its Evolution through 2015" (PDF). International Water Association (IWA). pp. 1, 30. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
2. ^ a b c d "World Water Congress & Exhibition - About". www.worldwatercongress.org. International Water Association (IWA). Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
3. ^ a b c "International Association on Water Quality (IAWQ)". uia.org. Global Civil Society Database. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
4. ^ Yarrow-Soden, Erika (19 December 2022). "75 years and counting – IWA's rich and influential history". The Source – the magazine of the International Water Association. www.thesourcemagazine.org. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
5. ^ a b c Waddington, Karma (November 1999). "Water professionals in new embrace". Water & Environment International. International Trade Publications. 8 (63): 4. ISSN 0969-9775.
6. ^ Grabow, W. O. K. (1 June 2001). "Introduction". World Water Congress: Industrial Wastewater & Environmental Contaminants: Selected Proceedings of the 1st Iwa World Water Congress, Held in Paris, France, 3-7 July 2000 Paperback – June 1, 2001 (1 ed.). IWA Publishing. p. 1\. ISBN 978-1900222686.
7. ^ "First world water congress". Australian Geographic. AG Society News: Australian Geographic Society (61): 12. January–March 2001. ISSN 0816-1658.
8. ^ a b "World Water Congress Closes After Receiving 4500 Visitors". Water Online. www.wateronline.com. 16 September 2008. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
9. ^ "IDB and IWA set up AquaRating, the world's first rating agency for the water sector". Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). 2 March 2015. Archived from the original (News release) on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
10. ^ "The World Bank and the International Water Association to Establish a Partnership to Reduce Water Losses". Stockholm, Sweden: World Bank. World Bank press release. 1 September 2016. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
11. ^ a b Dunn, Michael (August 1999). "IWA Publishing Ltd" (PDF). IWA Newsletter. International Water Association (3): 2. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
12. ^ a b "About us". IWA Publishing. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
13. ^ a b c "Welcome to Denmark". IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition : Water for Smart Liveable Cities : Congress Programme & Exhibition Catalogue (PDF). Copenhagen: International Water Association (IWA). September 2022. p. 1\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
14. ^ "About: The leading water sector network". www.waterdevelopmentcongress.org. International Water Association (IWA). 2017. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
15. ^ Foster, Stephen; Gogu, Radu; Olesen, Ida Holm; Bækgaard, Anders (29 November 2022). "Denmark delivers: a huge success in Copenhagen". The Source – the magazine of the International Water Association. www.thesourcemagazine.org. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
16. ^ "The leading water and development event". waterdevelopmentcongress.org. International Water Association. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024. "3142 participants, 59 sessions, 100+ exhibitors, 100 countries, 27 workshops"
17. ^ "IWA Lisbon 2014: Highlights IWA world water congress 2014 in pictures". Dutch Water Sector. www.dutchwatersector.com. 29 September 2014. Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
18. ^ "World Water Congress & Exhibition 2016". World Health Organization (WHO). Archived from the original on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
19. ^ "The Japan Times to Participate as a Media Partner at the 2018 IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition". www.japantimes.co.jp. The Japan Times. 23 April 2018. Archived from the original (Press release) on 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
20. ^ Matsutani, Minoru (14 September 2018). "Nation hopes to share international water technology". The Japan Times. www.japantimes.co.jp. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
21. ^ "IWA's World Water Congress & Exhibition underway". WaterWorld Magazine. waterworld.com. 13 September 2022. Archived from the original (Press release) on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
22. ^ "IWA World Water Congress". International Political Science Association. ipsa.org. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
23. ^ Arachchi, Rajitha Jagoda (8 December 2019). "IWA summit: Preserving water for future". Sunday Observer. sundayobserver.lk. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
24. ^ Sabiiti, Daniel (11 December 2023). "International Water Congress Opens in Kigali Amid Challenges In Achieving SDG 6". KT Press. www.ktpress.rw. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2024.

## External links[edit]

* Water portal

* Official website of the International Water Association (IWA)
* Official website of IWA Publishing
* Official website of the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition (WWCE)
* Official website of the IWA Water and Development Congress & Exhibition (WDCE)

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