About NEWWA
The largest, and oldest water works association in New England.
Founded in 1882, the New England Water Works Association, Inc. (NEWWA) is the regional, independent, member-driven association that serves the drinking water profession across the six New England states (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, and VT). Headquartered in Holliston, Mass., we bring together water utilities, consultants, manufacturers, vendors, regulators, academia, and other interested parties to network, educate, and advocate.
NEWWA is a not-for-profit (501c3) member organization incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We are accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training and hold hundreds of courses each year for those working in the water works profession. In addition, we host two major conferences and several specialty symposia annually. Built around networking, our strength is our membership who volunteer on our vast number of committees to produce products, information, and courses.
Our Vision
Our vision is to inspire excellence in the drinking water profession, public confidence in tap water, and water resource stewardship.
Our Mission
The mission of NEWWA shall be the promotion of public health and the advancement of knowledge through education, advocacy, and research relating to public drinking water supply activities, while encouraging networking and information exchange among water works professionals.
Our Strategic Plan
NEWWA’s Long-Range Strategic Plan refines and builds on the goals from previous plans and is used as guidance for our board of directors, volunteers, and staff. The Planning Committee reviews the long-range plan every 5 years, and NEWWA also holds an annual in-person Planning Session, which is to assist the current vice president in developing their presidential goals for their term.
View Our 2024-2029 Strategic PlanNEWWA’s Education Program History
NEWWA prides itself on delivering the highest-quality educational programs to its students. With one of the first water works schools in the nation, NEWWA has maintained a tradition of excellence since 1882. We are an approved Accredited Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training, which holds NEWWA to strict ANSI/IACET standards that address processes for designing, developing, and delivering the association’s continuing education and training. The following is a brief timeline of NEWWA’s training mission development and facility growth:
- February 17, 1882 – the first meeting of three water superintendents is held in Lowell, MA.
- April 19, 1882 – NEWWA is formally organized.
- June 21, 1882 – NEWWA holds its first annual convention.
- September 1886 – NEWWA publishes its first issue of The Journal of the New England Water Works Association, Inc.
- 1932 – NEWWA launches the first water works school.
- 1978 – NEWWA receives its first training grant with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- February 23, 1984 – the Backflow and Cross Connection Prevention training and board are established.
- 1986 – NEWWA expands its training related to the Safe Drinking Water Act.
- May 19, 1988 – NEWWA opens its first training center in Milford, MA.
- 1989 – NEWWA creates a training manager position.
- 1992- The Francis X. Crowley training center addition is opened adjacent to the Milford facility (with a 54-seat classroom/vocation classroom).
- 2001 – NEWWA opens its new headquarters and training facility in Holliston, MA (with three classrooms, water quality laboratory, library, and committee conference rooms).
- 2005 – NEWWA opens its distribution training laboratory addition at its Holliston facility (with a hands-on classroom, hall of presidents, and field storage).
- 2014 – NEWWA renovates its first-floor administrative area.
- 2014 – LCD projectors are installed in all second-floor classrooms at the Holliston, MA facility.
- 2015 – All second-floor classrooms are renovated, including new furniture and a food service area.
- 2015 – Wall mounted LCD TV is installed in the Pennichuck Conference Room for presentations, etc.
- 2020 – NEWWA initiates online learning.
- 2021 – Virtual Technology Campaign fundraiser raises more than $100,000 for online learning and classroom upgrades.
- 2022 – NEWWA begins implementation of Learning Management System to facilitate and manage its online training programs.
- 2023 – Technological upgrades in classrooms commence at NEWWA’s headquarters in Holliston, MA.
- 2024 – NEWWA finishes implementation of its Learning Management System and classroom upgrades and now offers in-person, virtual, and hybrid courses.