The History of the New York Section American Water Works Association
The Section is looking forward to celebrating 100 years of service to New York’s water community in 2014!
“…for the exchange of information pertaining to the management of water-works, for the mutual advancement of consumers and water companies, and for the purpose of securing economy and uniformity in the operations of water-works.”
Constitution of the American Water Works Association
Adopted St, Louis, MO, 1881
Established in 1914, the New York Section is the first and oldest in the American Water Works Association (AWWA). The Section’s history, and that of its parent organization, is tied to concern for the public’s health.
The American Water Works Association
In 1881, 22 men representing water utilities in eight states formed the American Water Works Association. The new group’s purpose was to share information about source water and water filtration systems. This work began against a backdrop of scientific discovery, including research that showed that cities using groundwater or filtered surface water had lower typhoid death rates than other cities.
The portion of the U.S. population served with filtered water increased eightfold in the years between 1900 and 1913; during the same time period, the typhoid death rate plummeted by 55%. In 1914, the same year that New York formed its section of the AWWA, the U.S. Public Health Service adopted the first microbiological standards for drinking water to implement the Interstate Quarantine Act.
The New York Section
The first meeting of the New York Section was held at the Manhattan Hotel on January 20, 1914. Forty-four active members of the AWWA, along with 41 associate members and guests attended. The group chose Allen Hazen as the section’s temporary chair, and American Water Works Association President Robert J. Thompson and Secretary John M. Diven explained the provision in the AWWA’s new constitution that related to forming local sections. Those present then voted to form a section which included members from New Jersey. (New Jersey formed its own Section in 1935).
Section activity eventually expanded beyond the New York City area when Secretary Egbert D. Case suggested and successfully inaugurated meetings in Upstate locations as well as in New York City, thus promoting much wider interest and greatly expanded member services. The custom of a Spring and a Fall meeting each year has continued up to the present time.
From its first meeting of less than 100 members in 1914, the Section — and the water industry — continued to grow. By 1945, the Section’s membership hit the 500 mark; during the 1960s, membership surpassed 1,000. Now, its more than 2,200 individual and organizational members reflect all aspects of the water quality community — operators, distributors, contractors, engineers, government officials, students, and water utilities, large and small.
The Section offers a wide variety of events to appeal to all members, rotating programs throughout the state to facilitate participation. Section programs include recertification credits for anyone with water, wastewater, and professional engineer licenses through training seminars throughout the state, the Spring Meeting and Expo in Saratoga Springs, and the Tifft Water Supply Symposium in Central New York.
The Section’s plans for the future are based on the vision, “using our members’ knowledge and experience to be the most effective resource on drinking water.”
