Who we are
The European Water Association (EWA) is an independent non-governmental and non-profit making organisation dealing with the management and improvement of the water environment.
It is one of the major professional associations in Europe that covers the whole water sector, wastewater as well as drinking water and water related waste.
With member associations from nearly all European countries, the EWA consists of most European Union Member States, including all the Central and Eastern European countries that joined the EU on June 1, 2013. Additionally, other European countries represented within the EWA include Albania, Serbia, Norway, and Switzerland.
Aim of EWA
The aim of EWA is to provide a forum for the discussion of key technical and policy issues in Europe and its regions. This is done through conferences, workshops, meetings, special working groups of experts and through publications.
EWA informs its members on the development of EU legislation and standardization and seeks to influence the drafting when appropriate. It has close contacts with the European Commission, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Parliament, as well as other water-related organisations.
The objective of EWA is e.g. through this exchange of knowledge, to contribute to sustainable water management, a safe water supply and the protection of the water and soil environment.
Founded in 1981
The European Water Association (EWA) was founded on 22 June 1981 of the International Trade Fair for Wastewater and Waste Disposal (IFAT) in Munich, Germany, as the European Water Pollution Control Association. The scope of the Association was enlarged in 1999 with the change of name to the European Water Association.
Members
Today, the EWA consists of about 23 European national associations each representing professionals and technicians for wastewater and water utilities, academics, consultants and contractors as well as a growing number of corporate member firms and enterprises. EWA thus represents about 55,000 professional individuals working in the broad field of water management.