AMERICAN WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) is an international nonprofit scientific and educational society dedicated to the improvement of drinking water quality and supply. Founded in 1881, AWWA is the largest organization of water supply professionals in the world. Its more than 50, 000 members represent the full spectrum of the drinking water community: treatment plant operators and managers, scientists, environmentalists, manufactures, academicians, regulators, and others who hold genuine interest in water supply and public health. Membership includes more than 4, 000 utilities that supply water to roughly 180 million people in North America.

The American Water Works Association is dedicated to the promotion of public health and welfare in the provision of drinking water of unquestionable quality and sufficient quantity. Awwa must be proactive and effective in advancing the technology, science, management, and government policies relative to the stewardship of water.

Back in the year of our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Forty-Six (1946), a small group of men holding membership in the Southeastern Section of the American Water Works Association came to a momentous decision. These men felt the Southeastern Section had become so large the time had arrived when another Section should be formulated. To the best of our knowledge, these men were: Arthur N. Beck, Chief Engineer, Department of Health Montgomery, Alabama; John L. Snow, Layne-Central Company, Montgomery, Alabama; Frank G. Crow, Manager Water Department, Florence, Alabama; and A. Clinton Decker, Chief Engineer, Tennessee Coal and Iron Company, Birmingham, Alabama.

It seems that Beck, Snow and Crow had just returned from a Southeastern Section meeting in Savannah, Georgia, wherein only nine person from Alabama (none from Mississippi) were in attendance. This small attendance from Alabama and lack of attendance from Mississippi convinced these gentlemen the time had now arrived for a "Pull-Out" from the Southeastern Section, and that Alabama and Mississippi. So they wrote Harry Jordan, Executive Director of the American Water Works Association, New York City, informing him of the situation which existed in the Southeastern Section and requested his views on the idea of organizing another section. Harry Jordan was very sympathetic and keenly interested in the matter.

Arthur Beck and John Snow went to New York for personal consultation with Harry Jordan to ascertain just what steps would have to be taken to organize this New Section.