German Association for Water Management, Wastewater and Waste

The Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall e. V. (DWA) is a German non-profit association dedicated to all cross-cutting water issues. It works for the development of safe and sustainable water management. As a politically and economically independent organisation, it operates professionally in the fields of water management, wastewater, waste and soil protection. The DWA is both a rule-setter and an education provider. In Europe, it is the association with the largest membership in this field and holds a special position through its technical competence in standardisation, education and public information. Its approximately 14,000 members represent professionals and managers from municipalities, universities, engineering offices, authorities and companies. The DWA was formed on 1 January 2000 through the merger of the Abwassertechnische Vereinigung e. V. (ATV) and the Deutscher Verband für Wasserwirtschaft und Kulturbau e. V. (DVWK), initially abbreviated ATV-DVWK. In 2004 it adopted the abbreviation DWA, which was considered more memorable and aligned with the short names of the International Water Association (IWA) and the European Water Association (EWA). The predecessor associations were already strongly involved in developing rules for their respective fields and in further education and training. The DWA's core tasks include the elaboration and updating of a technical rulebook (DWA-Regelwerk), which is largely determined by honorary experts. The rulebook consists of working sheets and advisory leaflets for wastewater and waste technology, soil and water protection, climate change, hydraulic engineering and water management. It reflects the current state of the art and also translates legal requirements for water management practice. It serves quality assurance and is the basis for education and training. The principles for developing the DWA rulebook are summarised in Working Sheet DWA-A 400. In addition to the rulebook, the DWA publishes technical books, brochures and other publications. The DWA participates in the development of specialist standards at national and international level, covering not only technical and scientific topics but also economic and legal aspects of environmental and water protection. It organises around 275 conferences, seminars and courses annually (as of 2016), covering approximately 200 subject areas. It is the ideal sponsor of IFAT Munich, the world's largest trade fair for environmental technologies, and is also active at specialised trade fairs abroad, including IE expo, IFAT India, IFAT Eurasia and IFAT Africa. It trains around 37,000 education participants per year. The DWA organises one-day seminars and multi-week events, including vocational courses (Fachkraft für Abwassertechnik, Abwassermeister) and week-long courses for operating personnel and engineers. The DWA is one of the leading education providers in the water sector. It also takes on tasks on behalf of other organisations, such as the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). Municipal experience exchanges, international offerings and neighbourhood programmes complement its educational work. As part of the further training of operating personnel, the DWA organises Kläranlagennachbarschaften (wastewater treatment plant neighbourhoods). The regionally responsible DWA state associations are entrusted with their sponsorship. The neighbourhoods are regional or thematic associations of operators of water and waste management facilities or of those responsible for water body maintenance. Their subject is vocational further training. Regular meetings, so-called Nachbarschaftstage, inform participants about current developments. The focus is on the exchange of experience. In addition to knowledge exchange, the aim is to get to know one another in order to create a network that extends beyond the neighbourhood day. An important goal is mutual help with advice and action on site.

The DWA was formed on 1 January 2000 through the merger of the Abwassertechnische Vereinigung e. V. (ATV) and the Deutscher Verband für Wasserwirtschaft und Kulturbau e. V. (DVWK), initially abbreviated ATV-DVWK. In 2004 it adopted the abbreviation DWA, which was considered more memorable and aligned with the short names of the International Water Association (IWA) and the European Water Association (EWA). The predecessor associations were already strongly involved in developing rules for their respective fields and in further education and training. The Abwassertechnische Vereinigung e. V. (ATV) was founded on 10 May 1948. A core part of ATV's activities was the vocational training of employees at wastewater treatment plants, in order to impart the necessary knowledge for proper operation of the plants. The ATV organised the "Third International Conference on Water Pollution Research" in Munich from 5 to 9 September 1966 for the world association, with 1400 participants from 43 countries. The accompanying exhibition with 151 exhibitors from 10 countries was the birth of today's IFAT, the world's largest environmental trade fair. As a result, today's DWA is the oldest ideal sponsor of IFAT. Another core element was the ATV rulebook for waste/wastewater. Through this rulebook, the quality of planning, construction and operation of wastewater and waste facilities was greatly improved. Engineers were thus given the foundations to design and implement such facilities efficiently. The DVWK (Deutscher Verband für Wasserwirtschaft und Kulturbau e. V.) emerged on 5 October 1978 from the merger of the associations Kuratorium für Wasser und Kulturbauwesen (KWK) and the Deutscher Verband für Wasserwirtschaft (DVWW). The purpose of the DVWK was to promote land culture and safeguard environmental concerns. The DVWK was last divided into five different technical committees: Water management and hydrology; Hydraulic engineering and hydraulics; Groundwater; Water and soil, water body ecology; Water-endangering substances.

• 2004

  Association adopts the abbreviation DWA.

• 2000

  ATV and DVWK merge on 1 January to form ATV-DVWK.

• 1978

  Deutscher Verband für Wasserwirtschaft und Kulturbau e. V. (DVWK) formed on 5 October from KWK and DVWW.

• 1966

  ATV organises the Third International Conference on Water Pollution Research in Munich, leading to the birth of IFAT.

• 1948

  Abwassertechnische Vereinigung e. V. (ATV) founded on 10 May.

Politically and economically independent non-profit association; Europe's largest membership organisation in water management; sets technical standards and provides education.

• DWA-Regelwerk (technical rulebook)

  Working sheets and advisory leaflets for wastewater and waste technology, soil and water protection, climate change, hydraulic engineering and water management.

• DWA-A 400

  Working sheet summarising the principles for developing the DWA rulebook.

• Vocational courses

  Courses such as Fachkraft für Abwassertechnik and Abwassermeister.

• Kläranlagennachbarschaften

  Regional or thematic associations of operators for vocational further training.

1. 1Home - DWA e. V.de.dwa.de
2. 2Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfallwikidata.org
3. 3Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfallde.wikipedia.org