International Water Association

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.

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

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

• Water sector association
• Wastewater management
• Water security
• Professional membership
• Water industry events

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Core 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

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2025The 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/IWAHQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/InternationalWaterAssociation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 International Water Association