What European Water Association (EWA) does

The European Water Association (EWA) is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit professional association founded in 1981 at IFAT Munich (originally as the European Water Pollution Control Association, rebranded to EWA in 1999 with expanded scope). Headquartered in Hennef, Germany, and governed by a Council of national member representatives, a Management Committee, and a President, EWA serves as a pan-European federation for water management professionals. Its membership comprises 22 national member associations representing approximately 50,000 water and environmental management professionals across nearly all European countries, plus corporate, sponsor, and research members. Core offerings include the E-Water electronic journal (ISSN 1994-8549), the annual Yearbook, the Brussels Conference, IFAT Munich symposiums, the William Dunbar Medal, and structured training such as the Introduction Course to EU Water Policy and Legislation. EWA's stated mission is to support sustainable water management and the implementation of EU water policies through knowledge exchange, networking, and policy advocacy.

EWA generates revenue exclusively through annual membership fees across four tiers: National Members (fee based on gross income, individually negotiated), Corporate Members (€1,145 in 2026), Sponsor Members (€6,290 in 2026), and Research Members (€310 in 2026). The go-to-market is community-led, with new members acquired through application and engagement at conferences, workshops, and council meetings. EWA maintains close institutional relationships with the European Commission, European Parliament, European Committee for Standardization, and the European Environment Agency, and participates in the Water Framework Directive Common Implementation Strategy. The organization is supported by a lean Secretariat of three staff (Secretary General, Communications Officer, Administration Officer) and governed by an elected President and Management Committee; current leadership is President Harsha Ratnaweera (2025), Secretary General Arthur Guischet (since 2024), and Honorary Treasurer Raymond Erpelding. EWA's strategic partnerships include IFAT Munich (core), IWA, WEF, JSWA, AfWASA, ICPDR, and ASEMWater, supporting both European reach and international cooperation.

Name

European Water Association (EWA)

Legal name

European Water Association (EWA)

Website

https://ewa-online.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

European Water Association (EWA) is a non-profit professional association founded in 1981, headquartered in Hennef, Germany, federating 22 European national water associations representing approximately 50,000 professionals. It generates revenue through tiered membership fees and publishes the E-Water journal while organizing conferences, awards, and EU water policy training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association / Water Sector Industry Body

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE), WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) Organizations (HLAJAKAI)

Keywords

• Water sector association
• Professional membership services
• Water policy advocacy
• Water management knowledge
• Industry events conferences

Headquarters

HQ city

Hennef

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: EWA generates revenue through annual membership fees from four categories: National Members (fee based on gross income), Corporate Members (1,145 EUR in 2026), Sponsor Members (6,290 EUR in 2026), and Research Members (310 EUR in 2026).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The European Water Association (EWA) is a non-governmental, non-profit professional association that delivers membership-based services to the European water sector. Its offerings include tiered annual memberships (National, Corporate, Sponsor, and Research), conferences and training courses on EU water policy, the E-Water electronic journal and Yearbook publications, the William Dunbar Medal award, and policy advocacy through its European Policy Committee and European Technical & Scientific Committee.

Product overview

The European Water Association (EWA) is a professional association, not a product company. Its offerings consist primarily of membership-based services, publications, events, and awards. The core portfolio includes: E-WAter (electronic journal), EWA Publications suite (Water Manifesto, position papers, proceedings), the William Dunbar Medal (prestigious award), the annual EWA Brussels Conference, training courses on EU water policy, and the annual Yearbook. These offerings serve to advance the association's mission of promoting sustainable water management across Europe through knowledge sharing, networking, and policy advocacy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• Represents approximately 50,000 professional individuals through 22 national member associations

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IFAT Munich / Messe MünchencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFAT is the World's Leading Trade Fair for Water, Sewage, Waste, and Raw Materials Management. EWA is one of the official partners of IFAT Munich. IFAT donates the William Dunbar Medal to EWA. EWA organizes the International Water and Wastewater Symposium during IFAT. IFAT provides free fair access to EWA members. Half of the 270,000 m² event is dedicated to water and sewage sector.
• AfWASA (African Water and Sanitation Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional organization of water and sanitation sector actors in Africa. AfWASA coordinates knowledge search and latest development in technical, legal, administrative and economic fields for drinking water production, supply and sanitation. Promotes exchange of information on methods, processes and procedures.
• ICPDR (International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks to ensure sustainable and equitable use of waters in the Danube River Basin. Work is based on the Danube River Protection Convention (DRPC), the major legal instrument for cooperation and transboundary water management in the Danube River Basin.
• ASEMWater (Asia-Europe Water Resources Research and Development Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPermanent research and development organization in water science and technology cooperation under ASEM framework. Regional public non-profit international organization specializing in S&T cooperation. United governments, universities, institutions and enterprises to promote sustainable development through collaboration.
• JSWA (Japan Sewage Works Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStarted in 1964 to achieve clean water environment by representing wastewater utilities in Japan. Around 1,500 public utilities provide wastewater service. Membership includes utilities, companies and individuals. Publishes standards and guidelines, provides educational opportunities.
• WEF (Water Environment Federation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNot-for-profit technical and educational organization with more than 30,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals worldwide. Since 1928, WEF has protected public health and environment.
• IWA (International Water Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of water professionals striving for wisely, sustainably and equitably managed water. Drawing exceptional professionals from over 140 countries including scientists, researchers, technology companies, and water and wastewater utilities.
• IFAT Cluster (Global Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFAT Munich hosts individual trade fairs in China (IE expo China, IE expo Chengdu, IE expo Shenzhen, IE expo Guangzhou), India (IFAT Delhi, IFAT India), Brasil (IFAT Brasil), South Africa (IFAT Africa), Turkey (IFAT Eurasia), Saudi Arabia (IFAT Saudi Arabia), Dubai (WETEX), and Singapore. EWA collaborates with this global network for environmental technology exchange.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA): Continental professional association for water and sanitation sector actors in Africa. EWA's formal international cooperation partner, making it a peer in function and structure (membership associations, knowledge exchange, policy advocacy).
• International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR): Transboundary river basin management body for the Danube. A formal EWA partner that operates in the same water management policy domain, focused on implementation of EU water legislation across multiple countries.
• ASEMWater (Asia-Europe Water Resources Research and Development Center): International non-profit research and development organization for water S&T cooperation under the ASEM framework. A formal EWA partner and structural peer in convening water-sector research and policy networks across countries.
• American Water Works Association (AWWA): Largest North American membership organisation for water professionals and utilities. Provides a comparable model of national-association membership, publications, and standards/advocacy products that EWA mirrors at European level.
• Water Environment Federation (WEF): US-headquartered non-profit serving 30,000+ water quality professionals globally with 75 affiliated member associations. Functions as EWA's North American counterpart for water-sector technical knowledge exchange and policy advocacy.
• Japan Sewage Works Association (JSWA): Japanese non-profit representing ~1,500 public wastewater utilities. Listed as a formal EWA cooperation partner and structurally similar in providing knowledge exchange, standards publications, and educational programming for water professionals.
• EurEau (European Federation of National Water Services): European federation representing publicly owned water and wastewater services. Closely comparable to EWA in geography and water-sector focus, but oriented toward utilities rather than the broader professional/technical community.
• International Water Association (IWA): Global network of water professionals in 140+ countries; the most direct peer to EWA given overlapping membership of scientists, utilities, and corporate water-sector companies. EWA lists IWA as an international cooperation partner, indicating close functional overlap.

Others

• Global Water Intelligence (GWI): Commercial water industry intelligence and research firm. Adjacent ecosystem player providing data and market intelligence to the same water-sector corporate audience that EWA serves as a membership community.

Emerging players

• WaterAid: International NGO focused on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in developing countries. Compares to EWA thematically in the WASH and water sector space, though with a development/charity rather than professional association model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/european-water-association-ewa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about European Water Association (EWA)