AWWA Begins Water 2050 Initiative To Prepare For Sustainable Water Future The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has announced its landmark Water 2050 initiative, a collaborative exploration to envision the future of water and chart a course for water community success and sustainability. “Water 2050 will prepare us for the future of water—how it’s managed, protected, collected, treated, distributed, used, and returned to the environment,” said Chi Ho Sham, AWWA past president. “With outsidethe-box thinking, a longer-term view, and cross-discipline corroboration, we will make the water community a better steward of the world’s most vital resource in a proactive and resilient way.” The multi-year initiative is anchored in five intimate think tanks, where both young and more-experienced thought leaders examine the future of water through the prisms of sustainability, technology, economics, governance, and social/ demographic. Recommendations flowing from each facilitated think tank will serve as calls to action for AWWA, its sections, and the wider water community. In addition, AWWA members will engage in Water 2050 discussions and provide input at AWWA events over the next two years.
Official Launch: June 13, 2022 Water 2050 was launched at AWWA’s 2022 Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE22), which was held June 12-16 in San Antonio, with a keynote panel discussion on the initiative and a Water 2050 exhibit in the AWWA Pavilion. A video, “The Future We Create,” featuring thoughts from AWWA young professionals on the future of the industry, is in development and will be
shown at water-related events throughout the initiative. “With so many challenges and opportunities on the horizon, this is certainly the right moment to take a longer strategic view of the future and engage with bold, innovative thinkers,” said Joe Jacangelo, AWWA president. “We cannot know exactly how the world will look in 2050, but if we think critically and collaboratively with others, we can develop a more perspicuous understanding of how to prepare for it.” A select advisory team is developing the Water 2050 event design and providing leadership and guidance. The team includes: S Andy Richardson, chair emeritus at Greeley and Hansen S Sue McCormick, AWWA past president and former Great Lakes Water Authority chief executive officer S Jennifer Sara, global director for the World Bank Group’s Water Global Practice. The first Water 2050 think tank is to be held Sept. 21-23, 2022, at the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas, where 20 to 25 thought leaders will explore issues related to the sustainability driver. The gathering will be facilitated by Strategies with Rox.
Program Impetus and Goals The AWWA board of directors and six advisory councils planted the first seeds for Water 2050 during a council summit discussion in Denver in October 2021. During that gathering, the board and council members identified several critical drivers that would influence the future of water and the work of water professionals. “Water 2050 will significantly influence
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how AWWA builds member value and engages the water community in the years ahead,” said David LaFrance, AWWA chief executive officer. “It will also be a foundation for collaboration with new and existing partners who will help us understand the challenges we face. “Collaboration is the key,” LaFrance added. “Water 2050 will only be successful if there is engagement from many partners and forward-looking experts from within and outside the water profession.”
Next Steps Starting in 2022 and working through the end of 2023, those involved with Water 2050 will: Engage in Meaningful Conversations Thought leaders from within and outside the water sector will gather at the think tanks to examine the future of water through the prism of five key drivers. Enlist Strategic Partners Collaboration among water utilities, service providers, academia, water-sector organizations, and nontraditional partners will be essential. They will reach beyond the water sector to engage corporate water users, nonprofit organizations, and other stakeholder groups for fresh insights. Foster Intergenerational Responsibility The water leaders of today and tomorrow must work together to create a successful future. The voices of young and emerging professionals will be key throughout the initiative. Continued on page 8
