pa section american water works association (pa-awwa)

What pa section american water works association (pa-awwa) does

PA-AWWA is a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit professional association and the official state section of the American Water Works Association, established in October 1948. It serves nearly 1,500 members and over 2,000 directory-listed water industry professionals and organizations across all 67 Pennsylvania counties, organized into six geographic districts (Northwest, North Central, Northeast, Southwest, South Central, Southeast). Its core offerings include the Water News Source quarterly magazine, an Online Training Zone delivering PA DEP-accredited continuing education courses (Contact Hours and PDHs) at $25 per course for members and $40 for non-members, a 77-year-running Annual Technical Conference & Expo at the Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center, a membership directory, a job board ($75/$100 per 60-day posting), an awards program, and the Fresh Ideas Poster Contest for students and young professionals.

The organization generates revenue through five primary streams: recurring membership dues, advertising and sponsorships (including in The Water News Source and at conferences and district events), per-listing job board fees, per-course training fees, and annual conference registration/exhibitor revenue. The technology stack is intentionally lightweight — a GrowthZone CMS powers the member portal and website, while course content is delivered through a remote Online Training Zone and the magazine is produced in print and digital formats via publisher Dave Gill at Kelman. PA-AWWA also maintains strategic alliances with Water for People, Partnership for Safe Water, and PaWARN, and is governed by a volunteer board representing utilities, authorities, engineering firms, and manufacturers including PA American Water, Chester Water Authority, Western Berks Water Authority, GHD, Gannett Fleming, Hazen and Sawyer, and LB Water.

Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: members enroll through paawwa.org or AWWA's national join page, engage locally through six district organizations with their own boards and events, and participate in committees (Young Professionals, Water For People, Strategic Planning, Diversity & Inclusion, Distribution, Water Loss, etc.). Advocacy on Pennsylvania-specific drinking water regulation — including House Bill 1261 on PFAS firefighting foam and EPA's April 2024 PFAS NPDWR — is a central function, positioning PA-AWWA as the state's primary translation layer between federal regulation and local utility compliance.

Name

pa section american water works association (pa-awwa)

Legal name

Pennsylvania American Water Works Association

Website

https://paawwa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Short description

PA-AWWA is the official Pennsylvania section of the American Water Works Association, a 1948-founded nonprofit serving nearly 1,500 water industry members across six state districts with accredited training, an annual conference, a quarterly magazine, advocacy, and networking services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Industry Professional Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA) (EUAHABAB)

Keywords

• Water utility training
• Continuing education water
• Professional association services
• Water industry networking
• Regulatory compliance training

Headquarters

HQ city

New Cumberland

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 fees providing access to district events, training, conferences, publications, and networking opportunities. Membership categories include active, utility, associate, and multi-state members.
2. Advertising & Sponsorships: Revenue from advertising in The Water News Source magazine and Membership Directory, plus event sponsorships at annual conferences and district meetings.
3. Job Board Listings: Job posting fees: $75 for members (60 days), $100 for non-members (60 days).
4. Training & Continuing Education: Online Training Zone courses priced at $25 for members and $40 for non-members per course. Each course provides 1 PA DEP Contact Hour or 1 PDH.
5. Annual Conference Revenue: Annual Technical Conference & Expo with exhibitor spaces, sponsorships, and registration fees. Water tapping competition and tank building contest activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

PA-AWWA is a nonprofit professional membership association that provides PA DEP-accredited continuing education (Online Training Zone and in-person training), an Annual Technical Conference & Expo, six regional district organizations, a quarterly Water News Source magazine, a membership directory, a job board, and awards/scholarship programs for water industry professionals and organizations across Pennsylvania. Membership categories include active, utility, associate, and multi-state members, with revenue drawn from membership dues, paid training, conference registration, sponsorships, advertising, and job board listings.

Product overview

PA-AWWA is a professional association for water works professionals in Pennsylvania, not a unified software product. The organization offers a portfolio of member services including the Water News Source quarterly magazine, Online Training Zone e-learning platform, PA-AWWA Annual Conference & Expo, Job Board marketplace, membership directory, awards programs, and Fresh Ideas Poster Contest. The Online Training Zone provides remote courses in drinking water, wastewater, safety, and management topics with PA DEP Contact Hours and PDH credits. The association is organized into six geographic districts (Northwest, North Central, Northeast, Southwest, South Central, Southeast) serving members across Pennsylvania.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Training Zone Remote learning platform for water and wastewater operators and engineers offering courses covering Drinking Water, Safety, Water Analysis, Water Distribution, Water Treatment, Wastewater, Management and Public Relations, and Math. Each course provides 1 PA DEP Contact Hour or 1 PDH. Courses are priced at $25 for members and $40 for non-members per course.
• Continuing Education PA DEP accredited continuing education program offering PA-AWWA Certification Exam preparation and continuing education events for drinking water or wastewater license maintenance and PDH credits for P.E. license holders.
• Water News Source Magazine The official quarterly magazine of PA-AWWA, published in Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. Printed copies are mailed to members, and digital versions are posted online. Advertising is sold through publisher Dave Gill.
• PA-AWWA Annual Conference & Expo Annual in-person conference and exhibition featuring technical sessions, networking opportunities, water tapping competition, tank building contest, and awards ceremony for water professionals across Pennsylvania. Held at venues such as the Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center, with exhibitor spaces, sponsorships, and registration for members and non-members.
• Job Board Online employment listing platform where members and non-members can post and view job positions in Pennsylvania's water industry. Member rate is $75 for a 60-day posting; non-member rate is $100 for 60 days.
• PA-AWWA Membership Directory Resource guide and lookup tool serving over 2,000 active, utility, associate, and multi-state members, providing networking and business reference capabilities within Pennsylvania's water industry.
• District Events & Plant Tours Local conferences, plant tours, and technical sessions hosted by PA-AWWA's six district organizations covering all Pennsylvania counties, providing regional engagement and networking for water professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• $2,000 in award money distributed to top 3 winners of Fresh Ideas Poster Contest
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Water for PeoplecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater for People (WFP) is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving quality of life for impoverished communities worldwide through sustainable safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene projects. PA-AWWA's Water For People Committee supports WFP through silent auction donations and sponsorship opportunities. Robert McIntyre from Stone Hill Contracting chairs the committee.
• Partnership for Safe WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Safe Water is an alliance of seven prestigious drinking water organizations dedicated to improving water quality delivered to customers by optimizing water system operations. Offers self-assessment and optimization programs. Contact Melanie Greene at [email protected].
• PaWARN (Pennsylvania Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaWARN is a statewide Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network focused on 'utilities helping utilities' for emergency preparedness, disaster response, and mutual aid. Provides mutual aid agreements, streamlined resource sharing, and alignment with National Incident Management System. Visit pawarn.org.
• PA American WatermajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor of PA-AWWA. Pennsylvania American Water is the largest water utility in the state, providing water service to hundreds of thousands of customers.
• Complete Control ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of PA-AWWA events and activities.
• Keystone Engineering GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of PA-AWWA events and activities.
• LB Water | 540 Technologies | S3minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of PA-AWWA events and activities.
• The Sherwin-Williams CominorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of PA-AWWA events and activities.
• Brown & CaldwellminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of PA-AWWA events and activities. Environmental engineering consulting firm.
• CarollominorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of PA-AWWA events and activities. Water resources engineering firm.
• Gilmore & AssociatesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of PA-AWWA events and activities.
• McWane DuctileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of PA-AWWA events and activities. Ductile iron pipe manufacturer.
• VeoliaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of PA-AWWA events and activities. Water and environmental services company.
• GHDminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of PA-AWWA events and activities. Engineering consultancy. Peter Lusardi serves as AWWA Director representing GHD.
• HRGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of PA-AWWA events and activities.
• Coastal Technical SalesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of PA-AWWA events and activities.
• Fluid Conservation SystemsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of PA-AWWA events and activities.
• Gannett FlemingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of PA-AWWA events and activities. Engineering and construction solutions firm.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• New Jersey Section AWWA: Direct peer as a neighboring AWWA state section serving New Jersey water utilities and professionals with comparable membership, training, and conference offerings. Same parent (AWWA), same chapter-of-the-association structure, and overlapping content.
• New York Section AWWA: Direct peer as another large AWWA state section operating the same chapter model with district organizations, continuing education, and annual conferences for water professionals. Highly comparable structure, membership tiers, and revenue mix.
• Ohio Section AWWA: Direct peer AWWA state section in a comparable Mid-Atlantic/Great Lakes industrial state with similar membership scale, district structure, and annual conference & expo operations.
• Pennsylvania Water Environment Association (PWEA): Direct peer as the Pennsylvania WEF Member Association serving wastewater operators and professionals with parallel structure: state-wide organization with district events, training, awards, and an annual conference serving overlapping PA utilities.
• Rural Water Association of Pennsylvania (PA-RWA): Direct peer state-level association serving small and rural water and wastewater systems across Pennsylvania. Overlapping training, technical assistance, and conference offerings for a closely related operator audience.

Broad incumbents

• American Water Works Association (AWWA National): National parent association and broad incumbent that sets standards, publishes reference materials, and operates the flagship ACE conference. PA-AWWA operates as a state chapter within this structure and aligns training with AWWA's national frameworks.
• Water Environment Federation (WEF): Broader incumbent professional association serving wastewater and water quality professionals nationally and via state Member Associations (MA)s. Comparable membership, training, and conference model with overlapping audience in PA.
• National Association of Water Companies (NAWC): Broader incumbent trade association for private and investor-owned water utilities, with comparable advocacy, regulatory engagement, and conference/networking programs targeted at the same investor-owned utilities that PA-AWWA serves (e.g., PA American Water).
• National Rural Water Association: Broad incumbent national affiliate of state Rural Water Associations, offering training, certification, and technical assistance to small water systems. PA-RWA and PA-AWWA share audiences among smaller PA utilities.

Others

• Water Research Foundation (WRF): Adjacent organization that funds applied water research and disseminates findings to utility subscribers, including many PA-AWWA member utilities. Comparable audience and topic overlap, but operates as a research collaborative rather than a member-driven association.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pa-section-american-water-wrks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 →

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