These organizations can help you learn more about the many facets of water/wastewater technology and related industries. To begin your engagement with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) for alternative/renewable energy projects please fill out our automated questionnaire.
International
- International Water Association (IWA)
The International Water Association (IWA) is the global network of 10,000 water professionals spanning the continuum between research and practice and covering all facets of the water cycle.
- Israel's Newtech
The program promotes Israel's water technologies in the local and global markets by supporting R&D, participating in water related events and creating marketing tools for the benefit of the entire sector. Michigan and Israel have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at promoting joint projects in the water technology sector.
National
- American Membrane Technology Association(AMTA)
AMTA promotes the understanding and application of membrane technology to create safe, affordable and reliable water supplies, and to treat municipal, industrial, commercial, agricultural and waste waters. - American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
ASCE represents more than 133,000 members of the civil engineering profession worldwide, and is America's oldest national engineering society. ASCE’s vision is to position engineers as global leaders who are building a better quality of life. There are sixteen “Communities of Practice” within ASCE, including the water-related Maritime Technology and Water Resources.
- American Water Resources Association (AWRA)
The American Water Resources Association is a non-profit professional association dedicated to the advancement of men and women in water resources management, research, and education. AWRA’s membership is multidisciplinary. It is the professional home of a wide variety of water resources experts including engineers, educators, foresters, biologists, ecologists, geographers, managers, regulators, hydrologists and attorneys. The mission of AWRA is to advance multidisciplinary water resources education, management and research.
- American Water Works Association (AWWA)
The AWWA is an international nonprofit and educational society, and the largest and oldest association of water professionals in the world. AWWA provides knowledge, information and advocacy to improve the quality and supply of water in North America and beyond. AWWA members represent the full spectrum of the water community: treatment plant operators and managers, scientists, environmentalists, manufacturers, academicians, regulators, and others who hold genuine interest in water supply and public health.
- Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA)
The AMWA is an organization of the largest publicly-owned drinking water systems in the United States. AMWA is the nation's only policy-making organization solely for metropolitan drinking water suppliers. The Association represents the interests of these water systems, working with Congress and the federal agencies to ensure safe and cost-effective federal drinking water laws and regulations that protect public health. AMWA has also served as the U.S. EPA-designated liaison between the water sector and the federal government on critical infrastructure protection; AMWA also operates the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center (WaterISAC) and the Water Security Channel (WaterSC).
- Association of Water Technologies (AWT)
The AWT is an international, nonprofit trade association representing regional water treatment companies throughout the United States that specialize in water treatments for industrial and commercial cooling and heating systems. AWT provides professional education and resource support, including training, certification, networking, and regulatory and public awareness programs with a goal of advancing knowledge, preserving natural resources, and promoting the growth and development of member firms.
- Groundwater Protection Council (GWPC)
The Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC) is a nonprofit organization whose members consist of state and federal ground water agencies, industry representatives, environmentalists and concerned citizens, all of whom come together within the GWPC organization to mutually work toward the protection of the nation’s ground water supplies. The purpose of the GWPC is to promote and ensure the use of best management practices and fair but effective laws regarding comprehensive ground water protection.
- International Water Association (IWA)
The IWA is a nonprofit organization connecting water professionals worldwide for the development of effective and sustainable approaches to water management. The IWA’s mission is to create and foster a global network of leading-edge water professionals through products and services, conferences, publications, and technical support for member groups. The IWA strives to advance global best practices in sustainable water management.
- National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA)
NACWA was established in 1970 by a group of individuals representing 22 large municipal sewerage agencies. Based upon the shared goal of effectively representing the interests and priorities of publicly-owned treatment works (POTWs), they formed NACWA - the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. Today, NACWA is a national organization, involved in all facets of water quality protection. NACWA seeks to develop and implement scientifically-based, technically-sound and cost-effective environmental programs.
- National Association of Water Companies (NAWC)
The National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) represents all aspects of the private water service industry. The mission of the NAWC is to promote the value of the private sector as the provider of quality, sustainable water services and innovative solutions. Member businesses include companies who own regulated drinking water and wastewater utilities, and companies engaged in many types of public-private partnerships and management contract arrangements.
- National Ground Water Association (NGWA)
The NGWA is a nonprofit organization for anyone affiliated with the ground water industry. NGWA is comprised of more than 13,000 U.S. and international ground water professionals, including scientists and engineers, contractors, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers. The purpose of the NGWA is to provide guidance for sound scientific, economic, and beneficial development, protection, and management of the world's ground water resources.
- National Rural Water Association (NRWA)
The NRWA is a nonprofit federation of state rural water associations. It provides support services to state associations, with more than 26,000 water and wastewater systems as members.
- North American Membrane Society (NAMS)
The NAMS is a professional society that promotes all aspects of membrane science and technology, ranging from fundamental studies of membrane material science to process application and development. - NSF International (NSF)
NSF International is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization. NSF is the world leader in standards development, product certification, education, and risk-management for public health and safety related to food, water, indoor air, and the environment. NSF develops national standards, provides learning opportunities through its Center for Public Health Education, and provides third-party conformity assessment services.
- Water Environment Federation (WEF)
The WEF is a nonprofit technical and educational organization with 35,000 individual members and 81 affiliated Member Associations throughout the world. WEF and its member associations work to preserve and enhance the global water environment through water quality education, training, and business opportunities. WEF also provides technical expertise and training on issues including wastewater collection, treatment, reuse, and operations; residuals and utility management; sustainability; and emerging water quality issues such as microconstituents.
- Water Quality Association (WQA)
The WQA is a nonprofit international trade association representing the residential, commercial, industrial, and small community water treatment industry. WQA maintains a close dialogue with other organizations representing different aspects of the water industry in order to best serve consumers, government officials, and industry members. WQA is a resource and information source, a voice for the industry, an educator for professionals, a laboratory for product testing, and a communicator to the public.
- Water Systems Council (WSC)
The WSC is a national, nonprofit organization focused on household wells and small water well systems. WSC is committed to ensuring that Americans who get their water from household, private wells have safe, affordable drinking water and to protecting groundwater resources. The WSC’s Water Systems Handbook is a reference for water well construction and maintenance, including topics such as well fundamentals, pumps, service, components, and water quality assurance.
- Water & Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association (WWEMA)
The WWEMA is a nonprofit trade organization founded in 1908 to represent the interests of companies that manufacture products sold to the potable water and wastewater treatment industries. Its mission is to inform, educate and provide leadership on issues which affect the worldwide water and wastewater equipment industry.
Regional/State
- Great Lakes Commission (GLC)
The GLC is an interstate compact agency that promotes the orderly, integrated and comprehensive development, use and conservation of the water and related natural resources of the Great Lakes basin and St. Lawrence River. Its members include the eight Great Lakes states with associate member status for the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Québec.
- Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN)
The GLIN is a partnership that provides one place online for people to find information relating to the binational Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region of North America. GLIN offers a wealth of data and information about the region's environment, economy, tourism, education and more. GLIN has a strong network of state, provincial, federal and regional partner agencies and organizations that contribute to make the site a trusted, reliable source of information for those who live, work or have an interest in the Great Lakes region.
- Michigan Section, American Water Works Association (AWWA)
The mission of the Michigan Section, AWWA is to enhance the knowledge, skills and technology necessary for public water suppliers to produce a safe, adequate, and reliable supply of drinking water, to promote laws and regulations which protect public health, and to promote public confidence in their product – all within the State of Michigan.
- Michigan Environmental Council (MEC)
The Michigan Environmental Council (MEC), a coalition of environmental and public health organizations, protects Michigan's natural resources and promotes a healthy environment for this generation and those to come. The MEC represents the environmental community in public policy debates and coordinates the flow of information originating from the State Capital.
- Michigan Ground Water Association (MGWA)
The Michigan Ground Water Association (MGWA) was founded in 1928 as the Michigan Well Drillers Association, and incorporated as a non-profit corporation in 1940. The current name was adopted in 1995. The association has members in four divisions - Contractors, Technical, Suppliers and Manufacturers. The mission of the MGWA is to “Provide, Promote and Protect ground water.”
- Michigan Rural Water Association (MRWA)
Michigan branch of the National Rural Water Association. The mission of the MRWA is to provide resources, education, and networking to members, future members, and customers to enhance the quality of rural water services. MRWA provides technical support for water and wastewater systems, wellhead protection, source water protection, regulatory compliance, and emergency operator assistance.
- Michigan Water Environment Association (MEWA)
The MWEA brings together a diverse group of individuals whose careers involve the water environment and who have similar objectives from a variety of backgrounds. MWEA provides a forum for all water environment topics. MWEA represents more than 1,700 water quality professionals statewide who are dedicated to preserving, restoring and enhancing Michigan's water resources. MWEA is a member association of the national Water Environment Federation (WEF).
- H2Opportunities
H2Opps is an innovative company charged with identifying promising technologies in the water and wastewater arena and helping technology providers to bring the best technologies to market. This innovation is needed to help lower the cost of operating and maintaining water and wastewater systems. We need to provide cleaner water at a lower cost--al in an industry that is very risk adverse.
Government
Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (MDNRE)
MDNRE Water Programs establish water quality standards, assess water quality, provide regulatory oversight for all public water supplies, issue permits to regulate the discharge of industrial and municipal wastewaters, monitor State water resources for water quality, the quantity and quality of aquatic habitat, the health of aquatic communities, and compliance with state laws.
MDNRE is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the State's natural resources for current and future generations. The MDNRE employs a holistic resource management process to develop strategies for sustainable resource planning and management. The core of this approach is to utilize principles of ecosystem management, application of new technologies, and implementation of adaptive management techniques to sustain the diversity and productivity of Michigan's natural resources.
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The EPA protects human health and safeguards the natural environment. The EPA is responsible for developing sound, scientifically defensible standards, criteria, advisories, guidelines and limitations under the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. The EPA works with partners and stakeholders to develop the scientific and technological foundations to achieve clean water. The EPA Web site includes links to information sources, educational resources, business opportunities, programs and more.
- United States Geological Survey (USGS) – Water Resources
The mission of the USGS Water-Resources is to provide water information that benefits the nation's citizens, including publications, data, maps, and applications software. USGS is home to the national Water Information System (NWIS) database, providing access to water data collected at approximately 1.5 million sites across the nation. USGS Water-Resources offices are located in every State; the USGS’s Michigan Water-Resources Science Center is located in Lansing with field offices throughout the state.
- National Drinking Water Clearinghouse (NDWC)
The National Drinking Water Clearinghouse (NDWC) is a nonprofit public service organization dedicated to helping small communities by collecting, developing, and providing timely information relevant to drinking water issues. NDWC provides free and low-cost publications, products, databases, and referrals. The NDWC is funded through the USDA’s Rural Utility Service (USDA RUS).
- National Small Flows Clearinghouse (NSFC)
The National Small Flows Clearinghouse (NSFC) is funded by the EPA to help America's small communities and individuals solve their wastewater problems through objective information about onsite wastewater collection and treatment systems. NSFC products and information are the only national resource dealing with small community wastewater infrastructure. NSFC provides free and low-cost information about onsite sewage treatment options and pollution prevention.
More Resources
- Regulatory and Permitting Authorities
Michigan has numerous state and local agencies with regulatory and/or permitting authorities over activities which affect water use, quality and water levels. These organizations oversee a broad range of water planning and regulation activities related to the protection of water quality, water supply, coastal shorelands and bottomlands and human health. At the local level, cities and counties are involved in numerous activities for managing water quality and water supply. Michigan is the only state in the U.S. with elected Drain Commissioners who are responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of designated county drains. The Drain Commissioner ensures that drainage districts are managed to provide: adequate drainage for the protection of property; appropriate flood control infrastructure; and protection against contamination of the surface waters of the county.
