Virginia Water Well Association

What Virginia Water Well Association does

Virginia Water Well Association (VWWA) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1949 and headquartered in Powhatan, Virginia, that serves 435 members across Virginia's groundwater industry. Its member base spans licensed water well drilling contractors, pump installers, geothermal installers, equipment manufacturers and distributors (including Franklin Electric, Grundfor, and Pentair), water-quality testing laboratories, and government regulators from VDH, DEQ, and DPOR. The association operates as a horizontal membership organization whose value proposition centers on legislative advocacy, continuing education approved for DPOR credit, and industry coordination rather than proprietary technology.

VWWA generates revenue through four streams: recurring annual membership dues, advertising sold in its quarterly 20-page full-color magazine ($125 quarter-page to $900 back-cover), registration and exhibitor fees from the annual Winter Conference (held at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions) and Fall Field Day outdoor demonstration event, and member-funded programs including an annual $2,500 scholarship. It distributes content via a website, blog, email newsletter, Facebook page, YouTube channel, and printed quarterly publication, and maintains a small online store with branded product lines (Fuji Line, Himalaya Range, Pyrenees Pack, Sierra Series). The association is staffed by an executive director and a small support team (1–10 employees) and does not sell software, technology, or AI-enabled products.

The business model is that of a classic regional trade association: dues-based recurring revenue supplemented by event transactions and limited advertising. Growth levers visible in the data include a new Virtual Education program (Thursday-morning online courses, May–September), deeper engagement with private well owners through the Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension partnership, and active regulatory advocacy in the 2022/2024 Private Well Regulations cycle — though there is no indication of geographic expansion outside Virginia or any technology-platform build-out.

Name

Virginia Water Well Association

Legal name

Virginia Water Well Association

Website

https://vawaterwellassociation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Virginia Water Well Association is a non-profit trade association serving 435 groundwater-industry members in Virginia, including well contractors, equipment suppliers, and government regulators, via membership dues, continuing education, advocacy, and annual events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Groundwater industry association
• Water well drilling education
• Professional membership services
• Continuing education training
• Industry advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Powhatan

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from contractors, distributors, suppliers, and regulators in the groundwater industry. Currently serving 435 members.
2. Advertising Revenue: Quarterly 20-page full-color magazine sent to members. Advertising rates: Quarter Page $125, Half Page $250, Full Page $450, Back Cover $900. Advertisements offset print and postage costs.
3. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from Winter Conference and Fall Field Day registrations including exhibitor fees, attendee fees, banquet dinner tickets, and manufacturing representative registrations.
4. Scholarship Program: Annual $2,500 scholarship awarded to members' family members pursuing higher education, funded through association activities and member contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Virginia Water Well Association is a nonprofit trade association founded in 1949 that serves groundwater industry professionals in Virginia through annual membership services, continuing education programs approved by DPOR, two signature annual events (Winter Conference and Fall Field Day), a quarterly 20-page full-color magazine, virtual education courses, industry resources, and a $2,500 scholarship program. Its constituency spans water well drilling contractors, geothermal installers, equipment distributors and suppliers, water quality testing laboratories, and state regulators.

Product overview

Virginia Water Well Association is a trade association offering membership services, events, publications, and training programs for groundwater professionals in Virginia. The association operates a store featuring product lines (Fuji Line, Himalaya Range, Pyrenees Pack, Sierra Series), publishes a quarterly 20-page magazine for its 400+ members, organizes the annual Winter Conference with trade show and continuing education, hosts the Fall Field Day outdoor demonstration event, provides virtual education courses, and maintains industry resources including regulatory documents and technical guides. The association also awards an annual $2,500 scholarship to support education in the water well industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Program Annual membership providing access to the quarterly publication, continuing education programs, networking events, and industry resources for groundwater professionals including contractors, distributors, suppliers, and regulators in Virginia. Currently serves 435 members.
• Winter Conference Annual February conference offering vocational and continuing education hours approved by DPOR, plus a two-day trade show with manufacturers and distributors serving Virginia's groundwater industry.
• Fall Field Day Outdoor demonstration event providing eight hours of education with exhibitor tailgate displays, typically held in late September or early October across Virginia.
• VWWA Quarterly Publication A 20-page full-color quarterly magazine distributed to 400+ members and state groundwater associations, containing groundwater and association news with advertising options for suppliers and service providers.
• Virtual Education Online educational courses offered Thursday mornings from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM between May and September, providing one continuing education credit per course to members.
• Industry Resources Library Downloadable resources including bylaws, PSI study materials, well data examples, construction fact sheets, groundwater withdrawal permit applications, and regulatory guidance documents for Virginia groundwater professionals.
• Scholarship Program Annual $2,500 scholarship awarded to members and family of members pursuing higher education in fields related to the water well industry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving Virginia groundwater professionals for 76 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Ground Water Association (NGWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVWWA encourages close cooperation with the National Ground Water Association, Inc. VWWA supports NGWA efforts in legislative matters including adding provisions to the Safe Water Drinking Act and advocating for EPA to rescind Clean Water Act guidance. NGWA provides drilling videos and resources through WellOwner.org.
• Virginia Department of Health (VDH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVDH is a key regulatory partner providing updates on Private Well Regulations, hosting public comment periods, and coordinating on well construction standards. VWWA works with VDH on the Septic and Well Assistance Program (SWAP) and the Virginia Household Water Quality Program.
• Department of Professional and Occupational Regulations (DPOR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDPOR approves continuing education courses for water well systems providers. VWWA conferences automatically report education hours to DPOR per state requirements. DPOR licensing information is provided through VWWA resources.
• Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDEQ manages Groundwater Management Areas and well registration requirements. VWWA provides resources including GW-2 forms and guidance documents developed with DEQ input for uniform water well completion reporting.
• Water Systems CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSC conducts Water Systems Primer and Refresher continuing education courses at industry events. VWWA promotes WSC resources and the annual U.S. Water Well Survey. WSC Executive Director testified before Senate on rural water programs.
• Water Well TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit providing financing for water wells in underserved communities. VWWA supports Water Well Trust client advocacy efforts including Senate testimony on rural water infrastructure needs.
• Southeast Rural Community Assistance Program (SERCAP)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a resource partner on VWWA website footer, providing additional support services for rural water and wastewater needs in Virginia.
• Virginia Tech Cooperative ExtensioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVWWA partners with Virginia Tech's Virginia Household Water Quality Program (VAHWQP) to provide affordable water testing, well inspections, and education. VWWA helps develop and market standardized well inspections for homeowners.
• World Wide Drilling ResourceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPhotography services provider for Winter Conference events, with content shared on VWWA Facebook page.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Water Well Trust: National nonprofit that finances water wells for low-income and underserved rural communities. VWWA explicitly supports Water Well Trust advocacy efforts, including Senate testimony on rural water infrastructure. Operates in the same groundwater access space with a complementary mission.
• National Rural Water Association: National trade association serving rural water and wastewater systems operators, with affiliated state associations. Comparable trade-association structure and rural-water focus to VWWA, though with a utility operator (not contractor) member base; serves an overlapping rural Virginia audience.
• National Ground Water Association (NGWA): National trade association for the groundwater industry. NGWA is the national umbrella organization for the same constituency VWWA serves at the state level, including contractors, scientists, and engineers. VWWA explicitly cooperates with NGWA on legislative advocacy and member resources, making it the closest comparable peer at a larger geographic scale.
• Texas Ground Water Association: State-level groundwater industry trade association serving Texas well contractors, drillers, and suppliers. Directly comparable in mission, structure, and operating model to VWWA, demonstrating the state-association model that VWWA follows in a different geographic market.
• American Ground Water Trust: National nonprofit dedicated to groundwater education, awareness, and protection. Comparable in structure (nonprofit advocacy/education) and focus area (groundwater resources) to VWWA, though operating nationally rather than at a state level. Shares member constituencies and educational programming themes.
• Water Systems Council: National nonprofit focused on the water well and water systems industry, providing continuing education (Water Systems Primer/Refresher) and consumer resources. VWWA promotes WSC resources and educational programs at its events, making it a directly comparable national peer with overlapping member benefits and educational offerings.

Regional players

• Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (SERCAP): Regional nonprofit providing water and wastewater assistance to rural communities across the Southeast, including Virginia. Listed as a resource partner on VWWA's website; operates in the same geographic and rural-water-access space, though with a service-delivery rather than trade-association model.

Broad incumbents

• American Water Works Association (AWWA): The largest professional association for the water industry, focused primarily on municipal water utilities and treatment. Shares the trade association structure and continuing education model with VWWA, but operates at much larger scale and concentrates on drinking water utility operators rather than private well contractors.
• Water Environment Federation (WEF): International nonprofit providing technical education and training for water quality professionals, primarily in wastewater and water reuse. Comparable in operating model (membership, conferences, publications, certification) and partly overlapping audience with VWWA, though focused on the municipal/wastewater side rather than private wells.

Others

• Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP): National network of regional rural community assistance programs including SERCAP. Provides training, technical assistance, and resources for rural water systems. Operates in the same rural water infrastructure space as VWWA's broader advocacy work but as a service provider rather than trade association.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UClHu7uJsJDJPd6MWpQhMjnA
• Facebookfacebook.com/vawaterwellassociation
• Xx.com/vawaterwell

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Virginia Water Well Association