Georgia Association of Water Professionals

What Georgia Association of Water Professionals does

Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional membership association headquartered in Marietta, Georgia, originally founded in 1936 as the Georgia Water and Sewage Plant Operators' Association and rebranded to its current name circa 1975. GAWP serves over 4,000 members across Georgia's water sector — including utility operators, engineers, laboratory analysts, consultants, equipment manufacturers, and students — through five membership tiers (Individual at $62/year, Student at $20/year, Corporate, Utility, and Stormwater) with quote-based pricing for institutional members determined by employee count, MGD capacity, or jurisdiction population. The organization is the umbrella body for five affiliated sections — GAWWA, GWEF, AWRA-GA, GWWC, and GWWI — and operates 28+ technical and functional committees spanning treatment, distribution, collection systems, customer service, safety, and workforce development.

GAWP's product portfolio centers on (1) state-regulated certification programs where it holds administrative exclusivity through Georgia EPD delegation, including the Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester (BPAT) program, the Maintenance Technologist Certification Program (in partnership with Water Professionals International), and the Qualified Water Loss Auditor (QWLA) program delivered via PSI Testing Centers; (2) three flagship annual conferences — the Annual Conference & Expo in Savannah (1,900–2,100 attendees, 325–350 exhibitors), the Spring Conference & Expo in Columbus, and the Fall Conference & Lab Symposium at Jekyll Island (520–600 attendees); (3) fee-based leadership development programs including the Leadership Academy ($3,000/person, 11 months) and the Frontline Development Series ($1,250/person, six sessions); and (4) member benefits including The Georgia Operator quarterly journal, The News & Notes newsletter, eight annual scholarships from three separate scholarship funds, and an industry Career Center.

Revenue is generated from six primary streams: annual membership dues (subscription recurring), Annual Sponsorships at $7,500 per corporate sponsor with 70+ sponsor organizations, Utility Leadership Patron packages at $6,000 per utility, certification and license fees (transaction-based), conference and event registration and exhibit booth fees, and donations to scholarship funds. Distribution is hybrid: in-person events through eight geographic districts, conferences, and PSI Testing Centers; self-service via the YourMembership-powered online portal; social login through Facebook and LinkedIn; and Zoom-based virtual training. Select members cited include Arcadis, Henry County Water Authority, and Clayton County Water Authority. In 2004, GWEF/GAWP received the first-ever WEF Outstanding Member Association Award, validating its national standing.

Name

Georgia Association of Water Professionals

Legal name

Georgia Association of Water Professionals

Website

https://gawp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional membership association founded in 1936 that serves over 4,000 water, wastewater, and stormwater professionals across Georgia through memberships, state-mandated certification programs, three annual conferences, and leadership development training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water & Wastewater Professional Association Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability, Energy & Environmental (ESG/LEED) Certifications (EDAAANAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Standards, Certification & Compliance (RECs/GOs, sustainability reporting) (EUAMANAJ), Sustainability & ESG Reporting (GRI/SASB/ISSB/CSRD) (EUAHAJAB), Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK)

Keywords

• Water professional certification
• Wastewater operator training
• Backflow prevention certification
• Water industry association
• Stormwater management training

Headquarters

HQ city

Marietta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from Individual ($62), Corporate (based on employee count), Utility (based on MGD), Stormwater (based on jurisdiction population), and Student ($20) members. Provides access to publications, committee participation, discounts, and networking.
2. Annual Sponsorships: Annual sponsorship program at $7,500 providing signage, conference benefits, executive luncheon access, publication listings, and leadership program registrations. Requires corporate membership.
3. Utility Leadership Patron Program: $6,000 annual package providing enhanced benefits including free leadership academy and frontline development program registrations, additional executive luncheon access. Requires utility membership.
4. Certification and License Fees: Fees for backflow certification exams, maintenance technologist certifications ($25 application fee), QWLA certifications, and license renewals. Maintenance tech reinstatement fee of $225.
5. Conference and Event Revenue: Registration fees for Annual Conference, Spring Conference, Fall Conference, golf tournaments, workshops, and specialty events. Job posting fees of $75 for non-members.
6. Donations and Scholarships: Donations to scholarship funds including General Scholarship Fund, Greene Scholarship Fund, Karr Scholarship Fund, WMW Fund, and Water for People fundraiser.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

GAWP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional association providing education, training, certification administration, and networking opportunities to over 4,000 water, wastewater, and stormwater professionals across Georgia. It administers state-mandated certification programs (Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester, Maintenance Technologist, Qualified Water Loss Auditor) on behalf of Georgia EPD, hosts three major annual conferences with the Annual Conference & Expo attracting 1,900–2,100 attendees, operates district meetings offering recertification points, runs leadership development programs, and publishes the quarterly Georgia Operator magazine.

Product overview

Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional association serving over 4,000 water professionals across Georgia. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio of membership-based products and services including individual, corporate, utility, stormwater, and student membership tiers. Core offerings encompass professional certifications (Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester, Maintenance Technologist, Qualified Water Loss Auditor, Water/Wastewater Operator), professional development programs (Leadership Academy, Frontline Development Series), youth engagement initiatives (Model Water Tower Competition, Student Design Competition, Student Poster Session), academic scholarships, and industry awards. GAWP publishes The Georgia Operator quarterly journal and operates multiple career and networking platforms including a Career Center. The association hosts three major annual conferences (Annual, Spring, Fall) with the Annual Conference drawing 1,900-2,100 attendees and 325-350 exhibitors. Sponsorship tiers (Annual Sponsorship at $7,500, Utility Leadership Patron at $6,000) provide enhanced visibility and access to training programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Membership Annual professional membership priced at $62 per year providing networking opportunities, publications, committee access, and member-exclusive discounts to water and wastewater professionals across Georgia.
• Corporate Membership Membership tier for companies priced by employee count offering exhibit hall access, executive luncheon invitations, employee training discounts, and company listing benefits.
• Utility Membership Membership tier for water and wastewater utilities priced by Million Gallons per Day (MGD) capacity, providing employee discounts, district meeting access, and utility leader programming.
• Stormwater Membership Membership for stormwater professionals with jurisdiction population-based pricing, including comprehensive individual memberships and employee discounts for MS4 permit compliance and inspection training.
• Student Membership Annual membership at $20 per year for full-time active students not employed by industry-related companies, providing career awareness and networking opportunities.
• Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester (BPAT) Certification State-certified program administered by GAWP on behalf of Georgia EPD for backflow prevention assembly testers per State of Georgia Rules for Safe Drinking Water Chapter 391-3-5. Includes certification, renewal, reciprocity, and revocation tracking.
• Maintenance Technologist Certification Program Three-level voluntary certification (Class 3, 2, 1) for water/wastewater plant maintenance technologists administered in partnership with Water Professionals International with full Association of Boards of Certification reciprocity. $25 application fee and $225 reinstatement fee.
• Qualified Water Loss Auditor (QWLA) Certification Certification program for water loss auditors overseen by Georgia EPD requiring Basic Water Loss class (4 hours), QWLA Certification class (16 hours), and passing exam with 70% minimum. Three-year continuing education cycle beginning 2025.
• GAWP Leadership Academy Eleven-month leadership development program running February to December 2026 combining leadership skills with water industry-specific knowledge. Priced at $3,000 per person with reduced $750 rate for small utility employees serving under 10,000 customers.
• GAWP Frontline Development Series Six-training series for frontline workers including operators, crew leaders, customer service reps, and field techs covering personal style, conflict resolution, leadership, time management, communication, and cultural competence. Priced at $1,250 per person; 12 MS certification/CE points awarded.
• Annual Conference & Expo Major annual conference targeting utility directors, operators, consultants, and vendors, attracting 1,900-2,100 attendees and 325-350 exhibitors with technical sessions, exhibit hall, and networking events.
• Annual Sponsorship Program $7,500 annual sponsorship including signage, free Leadership Academy registration ($3,000 value), executive luncheon access, conference logo placement, publication listings, and homepage logo placement. Requires Corporate Membership.
• Utility Leadership Patron Package $6,000 annual utility leadership patron package including all Annual Sponsor benefits plus two registrations each to Leadership Academy ($3,000 value) and Frontline Development Program ($1,250 each), and two registrations to each executive luncheon. Requires utility membership.
• GAWP Career Center Job board platform connecting water industry professionals with career opportunities. Free for Corporate and Utility members; $75 for a 30-day posting for non-members.
• The Georgia Operator Magazine Official quarterly journal of GAWP providing in-depth technical articles on water and wastewater operations issues and engineering studies. Included as a membership benefit.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8 scholarships awarded annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Georgia Section of the American Water Works Association (GAWWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGAWWA is one of the primary affiliated sections of GAWP, supporting distribution systems, water treatment, diversity, and water loss control committees. GAWP hosts the Georgia Section of the AWWA activities including scholarship programs.
• Georgia Water Environment Federation (GWEF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGWEF is a Section of GAWP dedicated to education and information in the wastewater field. Affiliated since 1936, GWEF brings expertise in wastewater treatment, collection systems, industrial issues, and pretreatment. GWEF/GAWP won WEF's first Outstanding Member Association Award in 2004.
• American Water Resources Association (AWRA) - Georgia ChaptersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAWRA Georgia Chapter became a section under GAWP in 1996. Closely affiliated with GAWP Stormwater Committee, holding joint monthly meetings and organizing the biennial Stormwater Specialty Conference.
• Georgia Water Wise Council (GWWC)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerGWWC promotes water conservation and efficiency practices. A section of GAWP open to any GAWP member, focusing on water efficiency standards, education networks, and drought management resources.
• Georgia Water & Wastewater Institute (GWWI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGWWI provides training classes for water and wastewater professionals, with approximately 1,200 professionals trained annually. Partners with GAWP for certification prerequisite training, maintenance technologist training, and operator certification preparation.
• Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGA EPD has tasked GAWP to administer the Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester Certification Program per state regulations. Also oversees GAWP's administration of the Qualified Water Loss Auditor (QWLA) certification program.
• Water Professionals International (WPI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWPI partnership for administering the GAWP Maintenance Technologist Certification Program. The certification follows ABC Plant Maintenance Technologist Certification levels with full reciprocity.
• PSI Testing CenterscoreTechnology or IntegrationPSI delivers GAWP certification exams at eight Georgia locations and over 300 test centers nationwide. Computer-based exams administered by appointment through the PSI platform.
• YourMembershipsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationAssociation management software powering GAWP's online community, member portal, event registration, and career center functionality.
• Annual Sponsors (70+ organizations)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsors at $7,500 annually receiving signage, conference benefits, executive access, and publication recognition. Includes engineering firms, utilities, equipment manufacturers, and consulting companies serving the water industry.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Water Environment Federation (WEF): National professional association for the wastewater and water quality sector. Directly comparable as a membership organization delivering technical training, conferences (WEFTEC), and operator certification pathways for water professionals.
• Water Research Foundation (WRF): National research organization funding water utility-focused science and innovation. Comparable as an industry-serving nonprofit with subscription-based membership, technical content, and water-sector thought leadership.
• National Association of Water Companies (NAWC): National trade association representing private water service providers. Comparable as a membership organization serving the regulated water utility sector with advocacy, training, and conferences.
• National Rural Water Association: National nonprofit supporting small and rural water systems through training and technical assistance. Comparable as a membership-driven organization providing operator certification, training, and operational support to water utilities.
• American Water Resources Association (AWRA): National multidisciplinary association for water resources professionals. Comparable as GAWP's affiliate (AWRA Georgia Chapter) and provides overlapping conference, publication, and networking services across water resources.
• American Water Works Association (AWWA): National association covering drinking water supply, treatment, and distribution. Closely comparable as a member-driven organization offering certification, conferences, publications, and standards development for water professionals.

Direct peers

• Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA): State-level water/wastewater professional association serving Florida. Directly comparable model: state affiliate of WEF, providing certifications, conferences, and operator training to a regional membership base.
• Texas Water Utilities Association: Texas-based state water utilities association offering training, certification, and conferences. Closely comparable as a regional member-driven nonprofit serving water/wastewater professionals in a single state.
• Association of Boards of Certification (ABC): National certification body for water/wastewater operators. Directly comparable as a partner organization providing reciprocity for GAWP's Maintenance Technologist program and administering operator credentials at scale.
• Water Professionals International (WPI): International certification body for water/wastewater operators (formerly ABC). Comparable as a certification administration partner that supports GAWP's Maintenance Technologist program with reciprocity arrangements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Gawp.org
• Xx.com/tweet_gawp

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 records

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 Georgia Association of Water Professionals