International Water Association
International Water Association is a London-based non-profit professional association founded in 1947 that serves global water sector professionals, utilities, researchers, and policymakers through congresses, publications, and awards.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1947
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What International Water Association does
The International Water Association (IWA) is a London-headquartered, non-profit professional association founded in 1947 that serves the global water sector. Its constituency spans water and wastewater utilities, engineering consultants, academic researchers, and public-sector policymakers. IWA operates with a small permanent staff (reported at 11-50 employees) and runs on a member-association cost structure rather than a venture-backed one.
IWA's core deliverables are organized around three reinforcing product lines: international congresses and exhibitions (the most visible commercial lever), peer-reviewed publications and industry reports, and a recurring awards and recognition program. The 2025 Water and Development Congress & Exhibition in Bangkok (December 8-12, 2025), co-organized with the Asian Institute of Technology, is the concrete instance of this model in flight. Underlying technology is light on proprietary software and heavy on event infrastructure, editorial workflows, and standards-setting artifacts; AI is referenced in content (e.g., AI-based optimization for water treatment) but functions as a topic area rather than a core product.
The business model is a hybrid of membership dues, delegate and exhibition fees from congresses, publication and report sales, and award-related sponsorship. Distribution is global rather than regional, with content dissemination and event rotation across multiple continents. Revenue is therefore event-cyclical and concentrated around flagship congresses in any given year, while membership and publication revenue are more annuity-like; this mix is typical of long-tenured sector associations and informs both the stability of the base and the lumpiness of year-over-year results.
International Water Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- International Water Association
- Website
- https://iwa-network.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1947
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- International Water Association is a London-based non-profit professional association founded in 1947 that serves global water sector professionals, utilities, researchers, and policymakers through congresses, publications, and awards.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
International Water Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Water Industry Association
- NAICS
- Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations (HLAJAKAI), Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)
Keywords
Where International Water Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
International Water Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Congress and Exhibition Services: The IWA organizes and hosts major international congresses and exhibitions, such as the Water and Development Congress & Exhibition, which serve as revenue-generating events through registrations, sponsorships, and exhibitor fees.
- Membership and Reports: The association likely generates revenue through membership fees and publishing reports and awards recognizing contributions to water security and sanitation.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
International Water Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The International Water Association is a non-profit professional membership organization founded in 1947 and headquartered in London, UK. It connects water professionals worldwide through congresses, exhibitions, reports, and awards programs focused on water security, sanitation, and sustainable water management. The organization hosts major international events such as the Water and Development Congress & Exhibition, scheduled for December 8-12, 2025, in Bangkok, and produces industry reports and recognition programs for the global water sector.
Product overview
The International Water Association (IWA) is a professional network organization focused on water management, rather than a product company. It organizes events such as the Water and Development Congress & Exhibition, publishes reports, and administers awards recognizing contributions to water security and sanitation. No specific branded products or services were identified in the available source data.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Water and Development Congress & Exhibition An international congress and exhibition bringing together water professionals, utilities, researchers, and policymakers to share knowledge on water security and development, scheduled for December 8-12, 2025 in Bangkok.
- IWA Membership Program A professional membership program for individuals and organizations working in the water sector, providing access to the IWA community, knowledge resources, and networking opportunities.
- Industry Awards Program A recognition program that honours individuals, projects, and organizations for outstanding contributions to the water sector, presented at IWA congresses and events.
- IWA Published Reports Industry reports and publications on water sector topics, including water security, sanitation, and sustainable water management, produced for water professionals and stakeholders.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduced energy consumption and CO2 emissions through adoption of high-efficiency pumps, AI-based optimization, membrane filtration, and biogas usage technologies
Companies that use International Water Association
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
International Water Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
International Water Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)coreThe Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) co-organized the 2025 Water and Development Congress & Exhibition with the International Water Association. This partnership brought together the IWA's global water sector expertise with AIT's regional focus on technology and development in Asia, resulting in a major five-day event held in Bangkok from December 8-12, 2025.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights3 records
International Water Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Water Environment Federation (WEF): U.S.-based professional association for water quality professionals. Comparable to IWA in serving water utility and engineering professionals through events, publications, and certifications.
- World Water Council: International multi-stakeholder organization focused on water policy, organizing the World Water Forum. Directly comparable to IWA as a global water convening and advocacy platform.
- Water Research Foundation: U.S.-based research foundation funding water utility research. Comparable to IWA's research dissemination function and utility-focused audience.
- Global Water Partnership: International network supporting integrated water resources management worldwide. Directly comparable to IWA as a global membership-style water network.
- Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI): Swedish-based water policy institute that organizes World Water Week in Stockholm. Closely comparable to IWA as an internationally recognized convening organization in the water sector.
- WaterAid: International NGO focused on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in developing countries. Direct peer to IWA in mission and target audience of WASH professionals and policymakers globally.
- International Water Management Institute (IWMI): CGIAR-affiliated research organization focused on sustainable water management in developing countries. Comparable to IWA in water research and development knowledge dissemination.
- American Water Works Association (AWWA): Major international water utility association with standards, events, and member services. Comparable to IWA in providing a membership platform for water sector professionals.
Broad incumbents
- UN-Water: United Nations inter-agency coordination mechanism for freshwater and sanitation issues. Broader institutional actor in the same WASH space as IWA, with wider mandate but similar stakeholder engagement.
Emerging players
- IRC WASH: Dutch-based NGO focused on WASH systems and sector capacity building. Partially overlapping with IWA's WASH and water security focus, with stronger development-implementation orientation.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks3 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
International Water Association social profiles
Digital presenceInternational Water Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
International Water Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
International Water Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
International Water Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about International Water Association
What does International Water Association do?
The International Water Association is a non-profit professional membership organization founded in 1947 and headquartered in London, UK. It connects water professionals worldwide through congresses, exhibitions, reports, and awards programs focused on water security, sanitation, and sustainable water management. The organization hosts major international events such as the Water and Development Congress & Exhibition, scheduled for December 8-12, 2025, in Bangkok, and produces industry reports and recognition programs for the global water sector.
Is International Water Association a public or private company?
International Water Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was International Water Association founded?
International Water Association was founded in 1947. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is International Water Association based?
International Water Association is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does International Water Association make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Congress and Exhibition Services are the primary driver. The others are membership and Reports.
Who are International Water Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Water Environment Federation (WEF), World Water Council, Water Research Foundation, Global Water Partnership, Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), WaterAid, International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and American Water Works Association (AWWA). UN-Water is listed as a broad incumbent. IRC WASH is listed as an emerging player.
Does International Water Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for International Water Association.
What industry is International Water Association in?
International Water Association's product category is Water Industry Association. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGABAC, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), with a secondary code of HLAJAKAI, WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations. Its NAICS code is 22131 and its SIC code is 8600.