The Water Council

What The Water Council does

The Water Council is a nonprofit global membership organization founded in 2009 and headquartered at the Global Water Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is the only organization in the world focused concurrently on water technology innovation and water stewardship, serving a network of 154+ member organizations including startups, scale-ups, established water technology corporations (Badger Meter, A.O. Smith, Watts Water, Xylem, Rockwell), research universities (UWM, Marquette), utilities, and nonprofits across 30+ international cluster partnerships.

The organization's core programmatic portfolio comprises four pillars: (1) innovation acceleration via the BREW 2.0 Post-Accelerator (70+ startups accelerated cumulatively), the semi-annual Tech Challenge competition ($260K awarded to 26 innovators from 12 countries since 2019, with $10K top prize sponsored by Badger Meter, Watts Water and Xylem), and a Pilot Program that has facilitated 19 pilots and $850K+ in pilot awards; (2) water stewardship verification via WAVE: Water Stewardship Verified, the world's first enterprise-wide water stewardship verification scheme, complemented by the first water stewardship professional credentialing system and a graduate-level course developed with UWM; (3) economic development services including the Soft Landing program for international companies entering the U.S. market and a Global Directory platform; and (4) convening via the annual ReFRESH Summit, Nexus Sustainability Leaders Summit, and global event presence (WEFTEC, SIWW, WEX Global).

The Water Council's revenue model is subscription-based membership dues from its 154+ members, supplemented by competitive federal grant funding (notably NSF's $1M Regional Innovation Engine award in 2023 with up to $160M potential follow-on, and SBA's $2.5M Regional Innovation Cluster Award in 2024), corporate sponsorship of programs, and economic development service fees. The organization operates with 11-50 employees and is governed by a board including representatives from Veolia North America, Wilo Group, Marquette University, and CIS. In June 2025, founding CEO Dean Amhaus retired after 15 years and was succeeded by Karen Frost as Executive Director.

Name

The Water Council

Legal name

The Water Council

Website

https://thewatercouncil.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Water Council is a Milwaukee-based global nonprofit membership organization that drives water technology innovation through accelerators, competitions, and pilots, and advances water stewardship via its WAVE verification program, serving 154+ member companies, universities, utilities, and international clusters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Technology Innovation & Stewardship Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Quality Monitoring, Compliance & Reporting (Sampling, Lab, Regulatory) (EUANAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA) (EUAHABAB), Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Water technology cluster
• Water stewardship verification
• Water innovation accelerator
• Nonprofit membership organization
• Freshwater innovation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The Water Council operates as a membership organization, generating revenue through annual membership dues from water technology companies, corporations, universities, utilities, and nonprofits worldwide. Members receive access to innovation programs, networking opportunities, and partnership facilitation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Water Council is a global membership organization that convenes and supports the water technology ecosystem through programs including the BREW 2.0 Post-Accelerator (for late-stage water startups), the semi-annual Tech Challenge competition (with cash prizes up to $10,000), a Pilot Program for real-world technology testing in Wisconsin, and WAVE: Water Stewardship Verified — the world's first enterprise-wide water stewardship verification scheme. It also provides economic development services such as the Soft Landing program for international companies entering the U.S. market and the Global Directory networking platform.

Product overview

The Water Council is a global membership organization that serves as a hub for water technology innovation and water stewardship. Rather than offering a unified software platform, it provides a portfolio of programs and services: the BREW 2.0 Post-Accelerator for late-stage startups, the semi-annual Tech Challenge competition for freshwater technologies, the Pilot Program for real-world technology testing, and WAVE: Water Stewardship Verified as an enterprise-wide water stewardship verification program. These programs are complemented by economic development services including the Soft Landing program for international companies entering the U.S. market, the Global Directory for networking, the annual ReFRESH Summit for industry gatherings, and professional training programs. The organization operates from its 247 Freshwater facility at the Global Water Center in Milwaukee.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BREW 2.0 Post-Accelerator A post-accelerator program designed for late-stage water technology startups, providing guidance on marketing, sales strategy, and commercialization, plus access to The Water Council's network of water technology professionals, corporate sponsors, and utilities.
• Tech Challenge A global competition for freshwater technologies that connects water innovators with leading water technology companies (Badger Meter, Watts Water Technologies, Xylem, A. O. Smith), offering cash prizes up to $10,000 and access to corporate expertise and feedback.
• Pilot Program A program that facilitates real-world pilot tests of water technologies in Wisconsin, helping startups demonstrate and advance their solutions through testing partnerships with utilities and end users. Has supported 19 pilot tests with $850,000+ in pilot awards.
• WAVE: Water Stewardship Verified An enterprise-wide water stewardship verification program that helps organizations improve water stewardship performance and reporting with independent third-party verification. The world's first enterprise-wide water stewardship verification scheme, with 15 organizations participating and 4 verified companies representing 2,000+ sites globally.
• Global Directory An online directory connecting water innovators worldwide with The Water Council's network of water technology companies, universities, utilities, and nonprofits for partnership and resource discovery.
• Soft Landing Program An economic development program that helps international water technology companies locate and establish operations in the U.S. market by providing physical office space, mentorship, and market entry support at the Global Water Center in Milwaukee.
• Professional Training Water stewardship training and credentialing programs including comprehensive professional training offered in partnership with the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), plus the first graduate-level water stewardship course developed with UWM.
• ReFRESH Summit The Water Council's reimagined annual summit focused on freshwater resiliency, bringing together water innovators, utilities, corporations, and industry leaders for keynotes, panels, and networking.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 70 startups have benefited from BREW and BREW 2.0 accelerators
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability12 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Veolia North AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2025Collaboration on Water & Wastewater Workforce Center to address workforce needs in the water sector. Veolia hired Ashanti Hamilton to lead the center. Partnership includes joint programming and workforce development initiatives.
• U.S. Small Business AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2024SBA awarded $2.5 million Regional Innovation Cluster Award to support water technology sector from Milwaukee headquarters. Partners and subcontractors include University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Cimbria Consulting, Fresh Coast Climate Solutions, and CIS.
• U.S. National Science FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2023NSF awarded $1 million to develop a Regional Innovation Engine focused on water and energy resilience for manufacturers and utilities in eastern Wisconsin. The initiative involves research universities and technology companies in Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Madison, with future funding prospects of up to $160 million.
• Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2025, The Water Council became an affiliate of MMAC, deepening roots in Milwaukee's water technology ecosystem while maintaining global mission.
• University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of The Water Council. Partner on School of Freshwater Sciences, water stewardship course development, and SBA cluster contract.
• Marquette UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member and partner on Water Quality Center, joint Nexus Sustainability Leaders Summit, and sustainability initiatives.
• American Chemistry CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated to develop Water Body Risk Assessment (WBRA) framework to help members understand water uses, impacts and risks. Partnership includes water stewardship advisory services reaching 344 organizations.
• Alliance for Water StewardshipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on AWS standard implementation. More than 2,000 sites operating with improved water risk understanding through combined efforts. WAVE program builds on AWS framework.
• Badger MetercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Tech Challenge program. CEO Ken Bockhorst serves as Vice Chair of The Water Council board. Facilitated connections with Phuket water utility for potential smart meter pilot.
• A. O. Smith CorporationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOne of major water technology corporations in Milwaukee. Founding member of The Water Council. Co-sponsor of Tech Challenge and Nexus Summit events.
• Watts Water TechnologiescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Tech Challenge program. First organization to achieve WAVE re-verification. Partner on water stewardship initiatives.
• XylemcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerJoined as Tech Challenge sponsor in 2025. Major water technology company providing corporate expertise and feedback to innovators through the competition.
• Rockwell AutomationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Water + Energy Forward Engine and water stewardship efforts. Collaborated on World Economic Forum white paper about public-private collaboration in decarbonization.
• CIS (Corvias Infrastructure Solutions)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member Sanjiv Sinha (CEO). Partner on SBA cluster contract and infrastructure solutions. Received private financing for stormwater infrastructure expansion.
• Beckhoff AutomationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of BREW 2.0 Post-Accelerator program. Advanced controls and automation technology company supporting water innovation.
• Thales Water AdvisorscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of BREW 2.0 Post-Accelerator program. Strategy and finance advisory firm for water sector.
• U.S. Water Partnership / Water Smart Engagements (WiSE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded by U.S. State Department. Two-way exchange matching Asian cities with U.S. cities for water security. The Water Council matched with Phuket, Thailand. Facilitated international knowledge exchange and partnerships.
• Provincial Waterworks Authority PhuketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThai water utility partnered through WiSE program. The Water Council facilitated connections with Badger Meter for smart meter pilot and shared knowledge on water management practices.
• SCS Global ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent verification partner for WAVE program. Also participated in WEX Global and international water events with The Water Council.
• Water Environment FederationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in WiSE program. Collaborated on international water initiatives and represented at global water events.
• WEX GlobalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational water and energy conference. The Water Council represented at WEX Global in Valencia, Spain with European members and partners.
• British WaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK water technology cluster organization. Collaborative partnerships and representation at industry events.
• Water Alliance (Netherlands)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch water technology cluster organization. Collaborated on video about entering U.S. market and international partnerships.
• Catalan Water PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational water cluster partnership for knowledge sharing and collaboration on water technology initiatives.
• Freshwater Collaborative of WisconsincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLinks emerging talent in water-related programs across 13 University of Wisconsin campuses. Partner in Milwaukee's water technology ecosystem.
• Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on pilot programs, water treatment technology demonstrations, and international delegation visits. Key utility in Milwaukee's water ecosystem.
• Enterprise IrelandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIrish government agency that supported GKinetic Energy's U.S. expansion through The Water Council's BREW 2.0 program.
• Cimbria ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSubcontractor on SBA Regional Innovation Cluster Award. Member of The Water Council.
• Fresh Coast Climate SolutionsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSubcontractor on SBA Regional Innovation Cluster Award. Climate solutions firm focused on water and sustainability.
• Wilo GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman multinational supplier of pumps and pump systems with U.S. headquarters near Milwaukee. Became member in 2024 and Global Sustainability Partner of Milwaukee Bucks.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Water Alliance: The Water Alliance is the Netherlands' national water technology cluster organization and an explicit TWC international cluster partner. Both organizations run innovation cluster programs, facilitate international market entry, and connect SMEs with utilities and corporates — making them functional peers in the cluster-organization category.
• Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS): AWS is the global standard-setting organization for water stewardship, and TWC's WAVE program is explicitly built on the AWS framework. Both organizations certify/verify corporate water stewardship performance and have overlapping member networks and geographic reach, making AWS the closest comparable to WAVE specifically.
• Imagine H2O: Imagine H2O is a global water innovation accelerator that runs cohort programs, pilots, and competitions for water startups — directly comparable to TWC's BREW 2.0 and Tech Challenge offerings. Both serve the same startup-to-enterprise pipeline and compete for sponsorship from major water corporates (Xylem, etc.).
• British Water: British Water is the UK's water technology trade association and a TWC international cluster partner. Both represent water tech member companies, run technical/educational programming, and facilitate cross-border partnerships — directly comparable in mission and member-base profile.
• Catalan Water Partnership: Catalan Water Partnership is a Spanish water cluster organization and TWC international cluster partner. Both serve as neutral cluster conveners connecting water technology SMEs, utilities, and research institutions with shared focus on innovation and internationalization.
• WaterStart: WaterStart is a Nevada-based water innovation cluster that facilitates utility pilots and startup commercialization, similar to TWC's Pilot Program. Both organizations broker relationships between water utilities, technology companies, and investors to accelerate adoption of innovative water technologies.

Broad incumbents

• Water Environment Federation (WEF): WEF is a large, established water sector membership organization with much broader scope (utility operations, education, advocacy). WEF is a TWC partner in the WiSE program and represents an incumbent industry association against which TWC competes for member mindshare in water sector convening.
• WaterAid: WaterAid is a large international NGO focused on water access and sanitation. While primarily a development/WASH organization rather than a technology cluster, WaterAid is comparable to TWC as a global water-focused nonprofit with membership-style institutional supporters and global program reach.

Emerging players

• Smart Water Networks Forum (SWAN): SWAN is a global industry-led forum accelerating the adoption of smart water technologies. Both SWAN and TWC connect water utilities, technology vendors, and academics around digital and innovative water solutions, though SWAN focuses narrowly on smart-water/IoT while TWC covers the full water innovation spectrum.

Others

• SCS Global Services: SCS Global Services is TWC's independent verification partner for the WAVE program and a broader environmental certification body. As the third-party verifier, SCS is operationally adjacent — comparable services could be developed by SCS or competing verification bodies, posing a structural risk to WAVE's defensibility.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/thewatercouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-water-council
• Xx.com/TheWaterCouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheWaterCouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Water Council