The Gold Seal Product Certification Program gets its start in 1959 when the Water Conditioning Foundation (WCF) creates the WQA S-100 Standard for Water Softeners. Today's Gold Seal lets consumers know right up front that the products they are buying have been tested to recognized industry standards by an independent test lab. The program is fully accredited by ANAB and SCC to test and certify drinking water treatment units, drinking water system components and other water-related products to ANAB/ANSI standards. The WCF, only in existence four years when it established the program, later merged with the Water Conditioning Association International to form the Water Quality Association.
The Gold Seal Product Certification Program gets its start in 1959 when the Water Conditioning Foundation (WCF) creates the WQA S-100 Standard for Water Softeners. Today's Gold Seal lets consumers know right up front that the products they are buying have been tested to recognized industry standards by an independent test lab. The program is fully accredited by ANAB and SCC to test and certify drinking water treatment units, drinking water system components and other water-related products to ANAB/ANSI standards. The WCF, only in existence four years when it established the program, later merged with the Water Conditioning Association International to form the Water Quality Association.
The Water Quality Research Council (WQRC) is founded in 1952 to achieve sustained growth so it can conduct and fund scientific research on subjects relating to the water quality improvement industry. The WQRC is later renamed the Water Quality Research Foundation (WQRF).
The Water Conditioning Association International (WCAI) is created in 1949 to represent water treatment retailers and dealers. The association’s initial mission is to disseminate information to solve corrosion problems, oppose master plumber installation requirements, promote point-of-use (POU) softening rather than municipal softening, and develop standardized accounting methods. WCAI and the Water Conditioning Foundation (WCF) later merge to form the Water Quality Association (WQA).
The Water Conditioning Foundation (WCF) is established in 1948 to advise and coordinate industry efforts in matters affecting manufacturers and suppliers. WCF and the Water Conditioning Association International (WCAI) later merge to form the Water Quality Association (WQA).
This is a cross section of a wooden water pipe. Wooden pipes - usually formed from hollowed-out logs - were used in 16th and 17th century Europe, and in 18th and 19th century Canada and United States. To this day, wooden pipes are occasionally unearthed during construction events in older cities like Boston, New York or New Orleans, and many cities have them on display in local history museums.
A little soap solution in a bottle of water shaken vigorously can tell you how hard your water is and how well a water softener is working. Today's testers also can use quick test strips for an accurate reading of a household's water hardness.
"WCF Reports on a Year of Progress," reports the January 1965 issue of Water Conditioning Sales, an early trade magazine for domestic and commercial water conditioning dealers. The magazine regularly reported on industry news such as the work of both the Water Conditioning Association International (WCAI) and the Water Conditioning Foundation (WCF), predecessor organizations of the Water Quality Foundation. The trade publication is known today as Water Conditioning & Purification International Magazine (WC&P).
WCF Membership Booth. The Water Conditioning Foundation (WCF) is established in 1948 to advise and coordinate industry efforts in matters affecting manufacturers and suppliers. WCF and the Water Conditioning Association International (WCAI) later merge to form the Water Quality Association (WQA).
The new Water Quality Education Program is highlighted in this photo from WQA's archives. The program was developed by the Water Quality Association in cooperation with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and the University of Tennessee Extension Services. The complete audio-visual program stresses the importance of water quality and how to achieve it through water treatment equipment.
U.S. Sen. Robert Kennedy addresses attendees at the 1965 International Water Quality Expo (IWQE). A report in a trade magazine says he "attracted by far the largest audience" of the event. "Young and old listeners filled every available seat and overflowed to the hall," it says. The IWQE has transformed into the annual WQA Convention & Expo.
The first official Water Quality Association convention takes place in 1973, a few months before the association officially begins operations, and grows quickly to become known as the signature event of the water treatment industry. WQA’s predecessor organizations, the Water Conditioning Association International (WCAI) and the Water Conditioning Foundation (WCF), join forces on a Convention that year in honor of their decision to merge their associations to create WQA as of Jan. 1, 1974. Over the years the Convention has expanded to include education sessions on technical and business operations topics, a two-day trade show, an inspiring keynote speaker, WQA Leadership Awards presentations and plenty of engagement and networking opportunities for the industry. Today’s WQA Convention & Expo draws around 3,000 participants and more than 200 exhibitors each spring to alternating eastern and western U.S. locations.
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is established in 1974, the same year WQA is formed. This federal law authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to set national standards for drinking water to protect against health effects from exposure to contaminants. EPA works with states, municipalities and water suppliers who carry out these drinking water standards, which apply to public water systems, not private wells. The law is amended and reauthorized in 1986 and 1996.
WQA President William E. Dart is among association executives taking part in a White House briefing and reception with President Gerald R. Ford in March 1975. "I feel it is a real honor for the association and I hope you will agree," Dart tells the WQA Board of Directors when sharing a copy of the telegram inviting him to the event.
The Water Quality Association (WQA) is created through the merger of the Water Conditioning Foundation (WCF) and the Water Conditioning Association International (WCAI). The association, which during merger discussions was referred to as the "Quality Water Association", is formed to create a single industry voice to address rapidly growing industry challenges and opportunities. Although the merger was approved in 1973, its "full-scale operational implementation" takes effect on Jan. 1, 1974, merging the group's memberships and creating its own board of directors. WQA's first headquarters was in a rented facility in Lombard, IL, just a few miles from the current headquarters in Lisle, IL.
WQA moves from rented office space into a permanent home it built in Lisle, IL, a few miles west of Chicago. "It is a symbol of WQA's growth into a major force within the water treatment industry," reads the dedication program. "It signifies our commitment to the causes we have so long espoused and our belief that we are here to stay. It is a tribute to thousands of people who had more than just a vision for WQA - they had the will to turn vision into reality."
WQA is honored with the American Society for Association Executives (ASAE) Gold Circle Award in recognition of extraordinary communications efforts in 1983. That year, WQA adds a public relations specialist to its staff, which results in "increased fervor, better visibility ... and intensified education with consumers and specialized audiences," according to the association's annual report. WQA also relies on the work of WQA members and Media Spokeswoman Judi Ford Johnson, Miss America 1969, to conduct a nationwide education program on the value of water treatment.
After more than two years of research and planning - and in the middle of a worldwide pandemic - WQA moves into a new international headquarters and laboratory facility in Lisle, IL, a little over a mile away from a building it had constructed in 1982. The 2021 move greatly expands office space, dramatically improves technology, and triples the size of WQA's lab, which accelerates growth in the Gold Seal Product Certification program. The relocation was assisted by a $400,000 “Building Our Vision” capital campaign.
The EPA recognizes point-of-use water (POU) treatment equipment as an alternative technology to central treatment when EPA proposes the Recommended Maximum Contaminant Level (health goal) for fluoride.
Professional certification is a voluntary credentialing process that demonstrates a commitment to high professional standards, strong expertise, and improved customer service. WQA began offering professional certification titles in 1977 and through the years has continued to develop new certifications and industry training programs that meet the needs of the evolving water treatment industry and its professionals. To achieve any WQA-certified designation, candidates must complete training prerequisites or have a minimum number of years experience, pass a comprehensive exam and agree to abide by the WQA Code of Ethics. Certified professionals must then meet continuing education requirements to keep their titles in effect. Industry professionals are justifiably proud of these hard-earned certifications and work hard for the honor of having those letters after their names.
WQA develops a voluntary industry code of ethics in 1988, setting standards of conduct for industry members in their dealings with their customers, among themselves, with members of related industries, and the public at large. The Code of Ethics sets WQA members apart as professionals who follow, "the highest principles of honesty, integrity, fair dealing and professionalism in the water quality improvement industry."
The WQA Glossary of Terms provides officially recognized definitions of industry terms for water treatment professionals, students and consumers. The Glossary, originally appearing as a hardback book, was one of the resources made available online with WQA's first website in 1995 and remains there as a fully searchable mobile resource.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opens a brand-new WQA/WQRF international headquarters and laboratory in Lisle, IL. WQA leaders are wearing masks in the 2021 ceremony because a worldwide pandemic is still raging. The move, conducted after more than two years of research and planning, greatly expands office space, dramatically improves technology, and triples the size of WQA's lab, which accelerates growth in the Gold Seal Product Certification program. The relocation was assisted by a $400,000 “Building Our Vision” capital campaign.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opens a brand-new WQA/WQRF international headquarters and laboratory in Lisle, IL. WQA leaders are wearing masks in the 2021 ceremony because a worldwide pandemic is still raging. The move, conducted after more than two years of research and planning, greatly expands office space, dramatically improves technology, and triples the size of WQA's lab, which accelerates growth in the Gold Seal Product Certification program. The relocation was assisted by a $400,000 “Building Our Vision” capital campaign.
WQA establishes a presence on the internet in 1995 with its own website: www.wqa.org. The site offers early versions of some still-favorite features: a publicly accessible member directory, a library of technical articles and a searchable Glossary of Terms. In its first month, the website has 10,000 visits from 23 countries (compared to an average 68,000 visits from 218 countries in 2024). The association also establishes email addresses for staff, allowing better communications with national and international members.
This handy tool helps water treatment sales people, technicians and installers figure the best Reverse Osmosis system for residential or light commercial use, depending on factors such as amounts of water treated, the contaminants and rejection percentages. It is typical of tools and training that WQA provides members to help their businesses excel.
Three different research studies examining the benefits of softened water on the performance of household appliances and devices were released in 2009, the largest Water Quality Research Foundation projects that had been done by that date. Fifteen years later, they still are widely cited by the industry and in the media. WQRF's Softened Water Benefits: Laundry Study, conducted by Scientific Services S/D Inc., compared the effects of detergent dose, water hardness and wash temperature on the stain removal performance of five household laundry detergents. Water Softening showed to be significantly more effective for stain removal than an increase in either water temperature or detergent dose.
Three different research studies examining the benefits of softened water on the performance of household appliances and devices were released in 2009, the largest Water Quality Research Foundation projects that had been done by that date. Fifteen years later, they still are widely cited by the industry and in the media. WQRF's Softened Water Benefits: Energy Saving Study, conducted by Battelle Memorial Institute, focused on efficiency improvements in household water heaters from the use of softened water. The photographs compare the inside of a water heater receiving water that has been treated by a water softener (left) to one that has received hard water.
WQRF's Water Softeners and Septic Systems Performance study is conducted by researchers at Virginia Tech. This 2013 study demonstrates that efficiently operated home ion-exchange water softeners can improve performance of onsite septic systems.
Three different research studies examining the benefits of softened water on the performance of household appliances and devices were released in 2009, the largest Water Quality Research Foundation projects that had been done by that date. Fifteen years later, they still are widely cited by the industry and in the media. WQRF's Softened Water Benefits: Dishwasher Study was conducted by Scientific Services S/D Inc. Looking at the effects of hardness on the amount of detergent needed, the study indicated households could save up to 70% by running a dishwasher with softened water instead of hard water.
Three different research studies examining the benefits of softened water on the performance of household appliances and devices were released in 2009, the largest Water Quality Research Foundation projects that had been done by that date. Fifteen years later, they still are widely cited by the industry and in the media. WQRF's Softened Water Benefits: Energy Saving Study, conducted by Battelle Memorial Institute, focused on efficiency improvements in household water heaters from the use of softened water.
University of Arizona researchers create the first comprehensive database of the causes and characteristics for boil water notices issued by public water systems in WQRF's 2016 study, "Boil Water Notices in the United States, 2012-2014."
The Investing in Your Future Campaign allows WQRF to fund 10 big research projects that had been waiting years for funding. Dar Watts, a member of the campaign's national steering committee, says, "In our industry, science is created by people who believe in something better, and it is often advanced from the dealer/application level. Leaving the industry better than how we entered it is paramount and takes a broad level of involvement and commitment."
WQRF's Cost Benefits of Point-of-Use Devices in Reduction of Health Risks from Drinking Water calculates the costs from illness caused by contaminants in drinking water compared to costs of implementation of POU water treatment devices. University of Arizona researchers find the calculated lifetime loss to the Flint, MI, community from lead exposure during the 2014-16 lead crisis is $435 million, whereas it would have only cost $11 million to fund a five-year community intervention strategy supplying POU activated carbon filters with lead adsorption capabilities.
WQRF's Optimization of Water Softeners for Reduced Influent Chloride Study, conducted by the Madison (WI) Metropolitan Sewerage District, compares the chloride discharge in neighborhoods that optimized existing water softeners and in neighborhoods that replaced equipment with high-efficiency-rated systems. The study's purpose was to consider a potential strategy for meeting discharge requirements in areas with high chloride levels. The 2015 study determined that optimization of water softeners can cut chlorides by more than a quarter, and replacement of older systems with newer, efficiency-rated ones can lead to a reduction of nearly half. The Madison district used the results of this study to develop a softener efficiency optimization and replacement program that can serve as a national model for other utilities facing similar challenges.
WQA is honored with the A&G Productions Telly Award for being a Voice of the Industry. The Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television. Originally created to honor local, regional and cable television commercials, the award later evolved to include things like branded content documentaries and even social media.
WQA hosts its first Water Resources Congressional Summit in Washington, D.C. in 2016, bringing awareness to drinking water challenges and solutions across the country. The annual event, familiarly known as the DC Fly-In, connects attendees with key decision-makers in Congressional offices, government agencies, and departments to foster better working relationships and understanding. The advocacy activities throughout the event embody WQA’s mission to be the recognized resource and advocate for the betterment of water quality.
WQA’s easily recognized Gold Seal lets consumers know right up front that the products they are buying have been tested to recognized industry standards by an independent test lab. The program is fully accredited by ANAB and SCC to test and certify drinking water treatment units, drinking water system components and other water-related products to ANAB/ANSI standards. The Gold Seal Product Certification Program got its start in 1959 when the Water Conditioning Foundation (WCF) created the WQA S-100 Standard for Water Softeners. The WCF, only in existence four years when it established the program, later merged with the Water Conditioning Association International to form the Water Quality Association.
The WQA Sustainability Certification Program - the first of its kind in the drinking water treatment industry - was launched in 2013. The Sustainability Certification mark verifies to retailers and consumers that a product has been manufactured according to industry standards for recognized best practices in environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility. The mark also helps identify products as safe for both people and the planet and gives manufacturers a competitive edge in the marketplace.
The Board of Directors approves the formation of the WQA World Assembly Division in 1988 to serve the needs of members who operate in the global marketplace. This has since become the WQA International Section.
Every other year, beginning in 2015, WQA commissions a national study to gather data on U.S. consumers’ evolving attitudes toward water and water treatment. A high-level synopsis of the Consumer Opinion Report is released publicly and posted on WQA website to provide basic trend information. However, WQA members can access much richer data from this important study to help inform their marketing efforts and better understand their customers' needs.
WQRF's National "Deep Dive" Water Quality Study gathers information to help focus the scope of future WQRF research and to educate the public on point-of-use and point-of-entry technologies. Conducted by Applied Research-West, Inc., in 2017, the study discovers consumers could benefit from education on the difference between water softening and anti-scaling treatment. Consumers also revealed the facts that went into decisions to buy or rent a water softener.
WQA offers a new member benefit, the WQA Reverse Osmosis (RO) Market Trends Report. The report tracks quarterly sales trends for residential RO systems manufactured and shipped in the U.S. and Canada, helping to analyze the growth or recession of this market sector over time.
The Water Quality Association (WQA) is created through the merger of the Water Conditioning Foundation (WCF) and the Water Conditioning Association International (WCAI) and is official on Jan. 1, 1974. The association creates a unified industry voice to address rapidly growing industry challenges and opportunities. This photo depicts a celebration during the association's first year of operation.
WQA establishes the Women in Industry (WIN) Advisory Council to help advise members and member companies on hot topics within the female workforce pool while building enthusiasm for new women to enter the industry and participate in a broader network.
WQA establishes the Women in Industry (WIN) Advisory Council to help advise members and member companies on hot topics within the female workforce pool while building enthusiasm for new women to enter the industry and participate in a broader network.
This collection of WQA event pins celebrates different cities or themes for the WQA annual convention. The 1994 pin marks "20 years of Excellence" since WQA's founding, and others show hot air balloons marking the 1997 convention in Albuquerque and casino chips for the 2003 event in Las Vegas.
WQA representatives head to Newark, NJ, to help educate consumers about point-of-use and point-of-entry equipment in the wake of a lead crisis in that city. Members and staff provided filters and answered questions at a public health fair.
WQA's advisory councils for young professionals, diverse groups and women - RISE, THRIVE, and WIN - join forces to drive WQA's LEAD (Leadership Engagement And Development) Initiative.
The city of Flint, MI, switches its water source in 2014 without proper corrosion control, causing lead to leach into the drinking water supply and contaminate it. By 2016, this is a public health emergency, with the incidence of elevated blood-lead levels in children citywide nearly doubling. WQA and member companies respond by providing filters for residents and emphasizing the importance of point-of-use and point-of-entry technologies to deal with lead in drinking water.
WQRF's Counterfeit Refrigerator Filter Study, conducted by the Association for Home Appliance Manufacturers, verifies that filters illegally using product certification and manufacturer logos are not able to remove the contaminants claimed on the label.
WQA's advisory councils for young professionals, diverse groups and women - RISE, THRIVE, and WIN - join forces to drive WQA's LEAD (Leadership Engagement And Development) Initiative.
WQA offers the Business Operations Benchmarking Report beginning in 2021, with data collection starting with fiscal year 2019. The report is an online interactive business tool for WQA dealer members in the U.S. to analyze the success of their business and compare their performance to the industry in five key areas: Profile (size and location); Financial (expenses and profitability); Business Operations & Sales; Compensation; Employee Benefits & Training. Water treatment dealers who participate by entering their business' information are allowed to access the full report and study this aggregated information.
WQA starts offering live online instructor-led training courses, immediately increasing the number of water treatment professionals who are able to continue on to earn professional certification titles.
PFAS – formally known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – are increasingly in the news as scientists begin to understand the health risks associated with this large family of man-made chemicals. WQA responds with resources to better inform its members on this issue. In 2023, WQA launches an online PFAS Portal to provide resources for water quality professionals and consumers. WQA's laboratory and product certification program also sets up to test industry products for reduction of PFAS compounds. In early 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency announces a new National Primary Drinking Water Regulation requiring public water systems to notify the public of levels of six PFAS chemicals in water supplies starting in 2027.
WQRF and WQA host the first-ever PFAS Symposium one day before the start of the 2023 WQA Convention & Exposition. PFAS – formally known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – are increasingly in the news as scientists begin to understand the health risks associated with this large family of man-made chemicals, so the symposium was a great chance to learn more about this topic. In early 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency announces a new National Primary Drinking Water Regulation requiring public water systems to notify the public of levels of six PFAS chemicals in water supplies starting in 2027. Participants from the WQRF/WQA PFAS Symposium and the WQA Business Boot Camp come together for this group photo.
WQRF's Emerging Water Contaminants Consumer Study – Understanding Consumer Awareness and Decision-Making on Using In-Home Water Treatment Devices was conducted by researchers at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. The study gauges the American public’s knowledge of emerging contaminants in drinking water.
This is a PFOA molecule, the building blocks of one of many so-called "forever chemicals", per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS. These chemicals are increasingly in the news as scientists begin to understand the health risks associated with this large family of man-made chemicals that more and more often are found in drinking water.
WQRF's Emerging Contaminant Removal By Point-of-Use Water Treatment Technologies Study, conducted by Purdue University researchers, investigates removal efficiencies of 3 PFAS chemicals, Manganese, Uranium, and Legionella by point-of-use reverse osmosis systems and activated carbon filtration.
This is where our work begins at WQA: The water molecule, one oxygen atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms. In its purest state, water is transparent, tasteless, odorless and nearly colorless. It's a vital component of all known forms of life.
WQRF's Sustainability Comparison Study: Assessing Centralized Treatment Upgrades and POU/POE Treatment for Small System Compliance to the SDWA is conducted by researchers at the University of Massachusetts. The study focuses on the steps and activities necessary to use point-of-use and point-of-entry device for compliance to the Safe Drinking Water Act. It demonstrates that while homeowners can implement a final barrier solution in their home quickly, regulatory burdens can significantly increase the cost and delay the timeline when these same solutions are used for compliance to the SDWA. Even with the regulatory burdens, most POU/POE options can be installed much quicker, providing risk reduction to the community more quickly. POU/POE offers additional human health safeguards in that it frequently offers protection against additional and emerging contaminants which should be considered as a long-term tool in the SDWA toolbox for community water systems, the study concludes.
A large group attends the 2023 WQA Water Resources Congressional Summit in Washington, D.C. The annual summit, familiarly known as the DC Fly-In, connects attendees with key decision-makers in Congressional offices, government agencies, and departments to foster better working relationships and understanding. The advocacy activities throughout the event embody WQA’s mission to be the recognized resource and advocate for the betterment of water quality.
The Water Quality Association creates a consumer website, BetterWaterToday.org, to help consumers understand how water treatment can play an important role in improving the quality of their drinking water. The site contains easy-to-understand consumer resources like booklets and charts, and it features WQA's directories of certified products and member water treatment providers.
WQRF's Emerging Water Contaminants Consumer Study – Understanding Consumer Awareness and Decision-Making on Using In-Home Water Treatment Devices was conducted by researchers at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. The study gauges the American public’s knowledge of emerging contaminants in drinking water.
WQRF's Predicting Modeling Study is conducted by Corona Environmental Consulting, LLC. The study collects and assesses all available and relevant water quality data to generate a model that describes the most likely future drinking water contamination events over the next five to 10 years.
Volunteers fuel much of the work of WQA. Different committees, advisory councils or Industry sections advise WQA and WQRF on industry research, event planning, education programs or technical affairs. Volunteers are involved in advocacy work, communications and other outreach, and some of them are elected to volunteer terms on the WQA or WQRF board of directors. These volunteer groups meet virtually throughout the year and in person at the WQA Convention & Expo or the annual Mid-Year Leadership Conference.
Volunteers fuel much of the work of WQA. Different committees, advisory councils or Industry sections advise WQA and WQRF on industry research, event planning, education programs or technical affairs. Volunteers are involved in advocacy work, communications and other outreach, and some of them are elected to volunteer terms on the WQA or WQRF board of directors. These volunteer groups meet virtually throughout the year and in person at the WQA Convention & Expo or the annual Mid-Year Leadership Conference. These ribbons adorn many convention badges.
The Water Quality Association annually recognizes individuals who have excelled in their commitment or service to the water quality improvement industry with WQA Leadership Awards. Leadership Awards are presented annually at the WQA Convention & Expo, where many previous awardees wear these ribbons on their convention badges.
WQA launches the Cross Correlation report. This report, published quarterly, analyzes correlations in market trends data, from both within and outside the drinking water treatment industry. It also summarizes the effects of the global pandemic on water treatment equipment sales. The report is intended to help WQA members better understand the current state of the industry and their business performance, as well as predict future trends. It is available to WQA members as a free benefit.
WQA’s Clean Water for All initiative is introduced in both the U.S. Senate and House in 2022 as the Healthy H20 Act, designed to help rural and disadvantaged communities pay for point-of-use (POU) and point-of-entry (POE) water treatment products.
The Water Quality Research Foundation hosts its inaugural Walk for Water during the 2023 WQA Convention and Expo. WQRF donors download an app that tracks steps they take during the Convention days, whether they are walking the Expo or their businesses back at home. It's a friendly competition and a fundraiser to support water quality research, all rolled up in one.
WQA's Tank and Valve Report, launched in 2014, provides WQA members important water treatment industry trend analysis. Following antitrust guidelines, WQA uses an independent accounting firm to collect monthly water treatment pressure tank and valve unit shipments in the U.S. and Canada, providing analysis of the industry through aggregated, anonymous data. These reports are available to WQA members at no cost as a member benefit.
A refillable water bottle is a handy and economical way to bring treated drinking water along with you nearly anywhere you go.
Water is on tap 24/7 at the water bar in the main lobby of the WQA & WQRF international headquarters in Lisle, IL. Visitors can sample straight tap water or sip water treated through reverse osmosis. They can compare it to water treated by reverse osmosis with minerals added or taste the carbonated offering. It's a perfect way to demonstrate the difference water treatment can make in your daily hydration choice.
WQA members get schooled in the summer of 2024 when the Water Quality Research Foundation hosts a "Summer School" webinar series for industry professionals. Sessions on PFAS, emerging contaminants, new research and tools keep minds engaged from May through August.
Current Curiosities, a new quarterly report, showcases a wealth of data from WQA’s websites and general email/phone hotlines. The data snapshots indicate what water quality and treatment topics are top of mind to consumers and other industry professionals. WQA members receive exclusive access to report content ahead of others.
WQRF releases an extensive update to the online WQRF Contaminant Occurrence Map, an interactive tool containing more than 131 million data points on water quality between 2019 and 2023. The data on 183 contaminants is gathered in all 50 U.S. states.
Professional certification is a voluntary credentialing process that demonstrates a commitment to high professional standards, strong expertise, and improved customer service. WQA began offering professional certification titles in 1977 and through the years has continued to develop new certifications and industry training programs that meet the needs of the evolving water treatment industry and its professionals. These badges represent the certification titles offered in WQA's 50th anniversary year.
A record number of WQA members attends the 2024 WQA Water Resources Congressional Summit in Washington, D.C. The annual summit, familiarly known as the DC Fly-In, connects attendees with key decision-makers in Congressional offices, government agencies, and departments to foster better working relationships and understanding. The advocacy activities throughout the event embody WQA’s mission to be the recognized resource and advocate for the betterment of water quality.