|
|
95 Years of History
When AWWA first began, the national organization was able to cover the entire nation. As membership grew, by 1910, the one annual meeting and one publication were no longer sufficient to properly serve the over 1,000 members. AWWA directors decided that by incorporating state or regional sections, it would provide water service professionals an opportunity for greater involvement and more frequent discussions on the latest and most relevant topics within the water industry. Through these sections, members would have the ability to network in their general area and to discuss regional specific issues.
The New York Section, at first including members of New Jersey, was the first section to be inaugurated into the American Water Works Association. At the first meeting, held January 20, 1914, forty-four active members and forty-one associate members and guests attended and Mr. Allen Hazen was chosen to be the temporary Chairman. At the second meeting of that year, held in March, Morris Sherrerd served as the first official Chair to NYSAWWA. It is interesting to note that as Mr. Sherrerd was the first official chair of the section, he was also from New Jersey, and had served as AWWA President in 1904. In 1915, the southern end of New Jersey left the New York Section to be a part of a four state section that was being formed. By 1935, the remainder of New Jersey left, making the New York Section AWWA truly the Empire State Section. It became habit, in those formative years, for the Section to hold two meetings in New York City, during the fall and the spring. The section was holding every meeting in the same general area, making it difficult for Upstate New Yorkers to attend these meetings. E.D. Case, Secretary of NYSAWWA from 1924-1931, suggested that the meetings be rotated throughout the state so that water service professionals in the various locations would have an opportunity to attend. The purpose of having a New York Section was to help and promote the industry for all water professionals, so this idea went into effect and has stayed through the years to the major meetings that the New York Section holds today.
The meetings that travelled through the state had three major components: a school session, a technical session, and a round table. In the years since, the New York Section has expanded the technical session to include roundtable discussions on the pertinent issues affecting the water industry and has lessened the school sessions – where attendees would brush up on math, chemistry and hydraulics – by incorporating training sessions throughout the year all around New York State.
These annual meetings have been an integral part of NYSAWWA history, in that they take place each year, without fail. In 1938, an unusually severe tropical storm hit New York, and caused extreme damage across the state. Despite this, the annual meeting was still held in Poughkeepsie, an area that had been tragically hit by the storm. Also, in 1945, the war in Europe imposed travel restrictions across the United States. In an effort to reduce the travel of numerous operators all across New York, Section leaders chose to hold four one-day conferences, in White Plains, Albany, Syracuse and Rochester. This way, only the few speakers and teachers would need to travel instead of all water professionals. It is through this dedication to the water industry that has kept the New York Section AWWA alive for the past 95 years.
George Warren Fuller AWWA Past President
Throughout AWWA’s history, seventeen men have served as the President of the National AWWA from the New York Section, though two former Presidents were from New Jersey, they served while the two states were combined under the name of the New York Section. There are also many other New York Section members that have represented the state on various levels throughout the entire organization. Even before its inception, the New York Section has played a dominant role in the governance of the American Water Works Association.
New York Section AWWA has come a long way since its meager beginnings of less than 80 members. The Section now has well over 2,000 members of the water service profession and continues to grow each year. Our two annual meetings have been expanded to include multiple options for sessions to attend and have grown to take place over a couple days. Trainings have also been implemented to assist operators in renewing their certifications and keeping up on both basic skills and the latest information and technology that affects the water industry. We also publish our own magazine, Aquarius, to complement our conferences, share new articles and studies within the industry and keep members informed on the latest happenings within the section. Coming a long way in its history, the New York Section AWWA continues to grow and expand to better serve the New York water profession.
William Brush Past Chair Past Treasurer
Inducted into Water Industry Hall of Fame - 1976
The Water Industry Hall of Fame was established in 1970 to perpetuate the memory of those living and deceased who have made the, most significant contributions to the field of public water supply. The names of the members of the Hall of Fame are engraved on a bronze plaque at AWWA headquarters, and a plaque signifying membership is presented for mounting. If deceased, the plaque is presented to the institution or organization with whom the member is identified. The New York Section is pleased to have the following "Hall of Famers":
The state of New York has achieved recognition for several historical water landmarks by AWWA. Sixteen in total have been recognized across the state since the first recognitions were made in 1969. In order to be recognized as a historical landmark, AWWA states that it much be a tangible physical property that has, or has had, a direct relationship with water supply’s treatment, distribution or technological development. The site must also be over fifty years old and been granted significance as a landmark within its own community. The sites recognized in New York are:
|
Back to Top
