What National Water Research Institute does

National Water Research Institute (NWRI) is a California Joint Powers Agency and 501c3 nonprofit founded in 1991, headquartered in Fountain Valley on the Orange County Water District campus. The organization convenes independent scientific and technical expert panels to review water projects, publishes research reports on topics including direct potable reuse (DPR), indirect potable reuse (IPR), UV guidelines, and PFAS treatment, and contributes to the CalVal project that supports uniform application of California's DPR regulations. NWRI's governance and funding base center on six member agencies (Inland Empire Utilities Agency, Irvine Ranch Water District, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Orange County Sanitation District, and Orange County Water District), and the organization also maintains a network of more than 70 affiliated scientists and engineers.

NWRI does not develop or sell technology products. Its outputs are services and convening activities: expert advisory panels, research reports, the CalVal regulatory initiative, and the NWRI Fellowship Program (currently on hold as of March 2026). The organization funds and administers the Clarke Prize, a $50,000 annual award established in 1993 to recognize thought leaders in water research, science, technology, or policy, which the International Congress of Distinguished Awards has recognized as one of the world's leading water-industry prizes. Revenue derives primarily from member-agency contributions and foundation support (notably the Joan Irvine Smith and Athalie R. Clarke Foundation), with pricing for advisory panels not publicly disclosed and discounted rates available to member agencies.

The organization is led by Executive Director Kevin Hardy (in role since 2017, preceded by Jeffrey Mosher and founding Executive Director Ronald Linsky) alongside a small staff team comprising a Project Controller, Communication Manager, and Administrative Assistant. Marketing and outreach are conducted primarily through the nwri-usa.org website, an eNews email newsletter, and the annual Clarke Prize ceremony, reflecting a relationship-driven go-to-market anchored in the Southern California water-utility community rather than commercial sales.

Name

National Water Research Institute

Legal name

National Water Research Institute

Website

https://nwri-usa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

National Water Research Institute is a 501c3 nonprofit Joint Powers Agency founded in 1991 that convenes expert advisory panels and publishes research to help Southern California water utilities, regulators, and researchers address drinking water supply and reuse challenges.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Research and Policy Advisory Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH)

Keywords

• Water research institute
• Expert advisory panels
• Potable reuse science
• Water policy advisory
• Water nonprofit research

Headquarters

HQ city

Fountain Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Member Agency Contributions: As a Joint Powers Agency and 501c3 nonprofit, NWRI receives financial support from member agencies including water districts and utilities. These member agencies pay for access to expert panels, research collaboration, and representation on the Board of Directors.
2. Clarke Prize Foundation Support: The Joan Irvine Smith and Athalie R. Clarke Foundation has supported the Clarke Prize and NWRI's mission since the prize was established in 1993. This provides ongoing financial support for the award and related programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

National Water Research Institute is a 501c3 nonprofit Joint Powers Agency that convenes scientific and technical expert panels to provide independent review of water projects for utilities and regulators. It also funds fellowships for emerging water scientists and administers the annual $50,000 Clarke Prize, recognized as one of the world's leading water-industry awards. NWRI additionally produces research reports and supports the CalVal project, which informs uniform application of California's direct potable reuse (DPR) regulations.

Product overview

National Water Research Institute is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that offers a portfolio of water science and policy services rather than a traditional product platform. The core offerings include: Expert Advisory Panels that provide independent scientific and technical review of water projects; the Clarke Prize, a prestigious annual $50,000 award recognizing water research leaders; the NWRI Fellowship Program supporting students in water science careers (currently on hold); and Water Research Reports addressing topics like direct potable reuse, PFAS treatment, and UV guidelines. The CalVal project contributes to California's DPR regulatory guidance. These services are designed to help water utilities, regulators, and researchers develop new, healthy, and sustainable sources of drinking water.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Expert Advisory Panels NWRI assembles teams of scientific and technical experts to provide credible, independent review of water projects, develop recommendations supporting water infrastructure investment and public health, and enable water resource management decisions grounded in science and best practices. Available at discounted rates for member agencies.
• NWRI Fellowship Program A fellowship program that supports graduate students pursuing careers in water science, engineering, and policy. The program is currently on hold as of March 2026 while NWRI evaluates the program status; no applications are being accepted at this time.
• Clarke Prize An annual $50,000 prize awarded to recognize researchers solving real-world water problems, honoring thought leaders in water research, science, technology, or policy. Established in 1993 in honor of co-founder Athalie Richardson Irvine Clarke and supported by the Joan Irvine Smith and Athalie R. Clarke Foundation; recognized by the International Congress of Distinguished Awards as one of the world's most prestigious water awards.
• Water Research Reports NWRI publishes research reports on topics including direct potable reuse (DPR), indirect potable reuse (IPR), UV guidelines, feasibility criteria, and PFAS destruction in water treatment.
• CalVal Project A collaborative project contributing to guidance for uniform application of California's direct potable reuse (DPR) regulations, helping utilities design and implement indirect potable reuse (IPR) and direct potable reuse (DPR) projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• NWRI has awarded the Clarke Prize annually since 1993 to recognize thought leaders in water research, science, technology, or policy
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Orange County Water DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrange County Water District is a founding member of NWRI's Joint Powers Agency. NWRI's offices are located on their campus. The partnership involves collaborative research on water reuse and supply projects, with OCWD providing financial support and governance participation.
• Los Angeles Department of Water and PowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLADWP is a member agency of NWRI's Joint Powers Agency, providing financial support and participating in governance through Board representation.
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMWDSC is a member agency supporting NWRI's collaborative water research initiatives and participating in governance.
• Orange County Sanitation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOC San is a member agency of NWRI providing financial support and participating in governance.
• Inland Empire Utilities AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIEUA is a member agency of NWRI's Joint Powers Agency supporting collaborative water research.
• Irvine Ranch Water DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRWD is a member agency of NWRI providing financial support and governance participation.
• Water Research Foundation (WRF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNWRI collaborates with WRF on research reports including the WRRF Panel Report on DPR Criteria.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• River Network: River Network is a national nonprofit that supports state and local water-protection organizations, sharing NWRI's nonprofit convening-and-research model applied to broader watershed and water-resource stewardship.
• US Water Alliance: US Water Alliance is a nonprofit that mobilizes diverse stakeholders to advance sustainable water policy and infrastructure, comparable to NWRI's convening function across water utilities, regulators, and researchers.
• Pacific Institute: Pacific Institute is a California-based independent water research nonprofit that produces policy and science analysis on freshwater challenges, paralleling NWRI's role in convening experts and producing research for water utilities and regulators in the same geography.
• WateReuse Association: WateReuse Association is the leading national trade association dedicated to water reuse, serving utilities, regulators, and researchers — overlapping directly with NWRI's member-agency and potable reuse focus and serving the same core customer base of municipal water providers.
• Water Research Foundation: Water Research Foundation (WRF) is a nonprofit that sponsors and manages cooperative water research on behalf of utilities, closely matching NWRI's convening and applied research model; NWRI already collaborates with WRF on reports including the WRRF Panel Report on DPR Criteria.

Broad incumbents

• Water Environment Federation: Water Environment Federation is a large established water-quality nonprofit serving the broader wastewater and water sector with conferences, standards, and research — a wider-portfolio incumbent operating in the same environmental/water ecosystem as NWRI.
• American Water Works Association: AWWA is the largest international nonprofit scientific and educational association dedicated to safe water, representing utilities like NWRI's member agencies and producing standards and research that intersect with NWRI's advisory and standards-support work.

Emerging players

• The Water Council: The Water Council is a Milwaukee-based nonprofit water-tech cluster and research convener; it is comparable to NWRI in convening water researchers and supporting innovation, though it focuses more on commercial cluster development.
• Clean Water Fund: Clean Water Fund is a national environmental nonprofit working on clean water advocacy and research programs, with thematic overlap to NWRI's research and advisory work on drinking water safety and reuse.

Regional players

• WateReuse California: WateReuse California is the California state chapter of the WateReuse Association, operating in the same geography as NWRI with a narrower focus on recycled water policy — a regional peer with overlapping utility and regulator audience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NWRIwater
• Facebookfacebook.com/NWRIwater

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 National Water Research Institute