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AZ WATER ASSOCIATION

CHANDLER, AZ · EIN 861037705 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE C20 · Environment · Small ($100K-$1M) · www.azwater.org
revenue
$563K
expenses
$403K
net assets
$1.1M
employees
0
volunteers
300
program ratio
44%
mission · from form 990

ADVOCATE FOR ARIZONAS WATER THROUGH BOLD LEADERSHIP, CONNECTING PROFESSIONALS, PROVIDING EDUCATION, AND INSPIRING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP.

profile · synthesized from sources

The AZ Water Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the water profession in Arizona. It serves water professionals, including operators and engineers, by providing resources, training, and networking opportunities to enhance water management and sustainability practices. The organization focuses on improving water quality and infrastructure across the state.

named programs · 2 · from sources

what they call their work

Annual Conference
Hosts one of the largest gatherings for water professionals to share knowledge and best practices in water management.
Water Equation
Supports workforce advancement, scholarships, and pro-bono engineering services for underserved communities in the water sector.
activities · 9 groups

what they do

  • Water Sector Professional Development & Advocacy 13 activities
    • Advocacy for Key Water Issues
      Engages in advocacy efforts to promote awareness and action on critical water sector challenges.
    • Advocate for Water Issues
      Promotes awareness and engagement on key water issues through advocacy efforts.
    • Advocate for Water Issues
      Promotes awareness and engagement on key water issues through advocacy.
    • Develop Long-Term Water Vision
      Established the Water 2050 initiative to create a long-term vision for the future of water through collaborative and inclusive discourse, fostering partnerships and cross-sector collaboration.
    • Host Annual Conferences and Events
      Organizes an annual conference, including operator competitions, and other events like the Stormwater Committee Meeting, Utility Forum Meeting, and the Stormwater Workshop, to provide programming and networking opportunities for members.
    • Host Stormwater Workshops
      Holds an annual Stormwater Workshop in Phoenix, featuring industry speakers and experts, and providing professional development hours for members.
    • Organize Meetings and Conferences
      Holds various meetings, including Stormwater Committee Meetings, Utility Forum Meetings, and an Annual Conference, which includes operator competitions and accepts presentation abstract submissions.
    • Organize Meetings and Forums for Water Professionals
      Holds various meetings and forums, including Stormwater Committee Meetings and AZ Water Utility Forum Meetings, to facilitate discussion and collaboration among members.
    • Organize Stormwater Workshops
      Holds an annual Stormwater Workshop in Phoenix, featuring industry speakers and experts, and providing professional development hours for members.
    • Promote Public Awareness of Water Issues
      Engages the public with information about drinking water quality and reliability through initiatives like Drinking Water Week and promotes awareness of key water issues through advocacy.
    • Promote Public Engagement on Water Quality
      Provides downloadable materials for the Drinking Water Week celebration to engage the public with information about drinking water quality and reliability.
    • Public Awareness and Outreach Campaigns
      Produces and distributes materials for Drinking Water Week (e.g., 2026) to educate the public on water quality and reliability through social media and outreach tools.
    • Stormwater and Utility Professional Workshops
      Hosts an annual Stormwater Workshop in Phoenix featuring industry experts and offering professional development hours, and convenes the AZ Water Utility Forum Meeting to support utility professionals through peer exchange and technical discussion.
  • Water Utility Research & Standards Development 9 activities
    • Conduct Research and Publish Reports
      Conducts research and publishes reports on critical water issues, such as infrastructure costs, cyber threats to water systems, and the future of water, to inform the water community and public.
    • Conduct Research and Publish Reports on Water Issues
      Reports on legislative efforts to safeguard water from cyber threats, local water infrastructure developments, and publishes reports on the costs of sustaining essential infrastructure, and creates a long-term vision for the future of water through the Water 2050 initiative.
    • Conduct Research and Publish Reports on Water Issues
      Reports on legislative efforts to safeguard water from cyber threats, local water infrastructure developments, and evaluates public health data to inform event policies. The organization also publishes reports on infrastructure and affordability, and standards for the water community, and commemorates significant water legislation.
    • Develop and Publish Water Standards
      Publishes over 200 standards to help the water community evolve, ensure credibility, quality assurance, and industry-wide consensus since 1908.
    • Policy and Cybersecurity Issue Reporting
      Monitors and reports on emerging policy and security issues affecting the water sector, such as bipartisan legislation to protect U.S. water systems from cyber threats and local infrastructure decisions like Payson’s approval of a new groundwater well.
    • Provide Technical Resources and Education
      Compiles and provides high-quality technical resources, research, news, and education through practice area groupings.
    • Provide Technical Resources and Education
      Compiles and provides high-quality technical resources, research, news, and education through practice area groupings to support the water community.
    • Technical Resource Curation and Dissemination
      Compiles and provides access to high-quality technical resources, research, news, and education organized by practice area to support water professionals.
    • Water Sector Research and Standards Development
      Conducts and publishes research on critical water issues, including infrastructure affordability ("Beyond the Replacement Era"), long-term planning (Water 2050 initiative), and historical milestones (50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act). Has published over 200 technical standards since 1908 to support industry consensus and quality assurance.
  • Water and Waste Operator Certification Training 6 activities
    • Operate Workforce Development Programs
      Operates AZ Water WELL, a Workforce Development program that includes classes for members, and hosts workshops focused on the water workforce.
    • Operator Certification and Technical Training Programs
      Provides advanced water and wastewater operator certification training, including specialized courses in solids handling processes and advanced water purification, aligned with ADEQ requirements. These programs originated from a voluntary certification system established by the organization that became mandatory in 1973.
    • Provide Operator Certification Training
      Offers certification training for water purification and solids handling processes, including advanced courses, to ensure competence in the water and wastewater industry.
    • Provide Operator Certification Training
      Offers certification training for water purification operators and in solids handling processes, which became a mandatory requirement by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) in 1973.
    • Provide Operator Certification Training
      Offers certification training for water purification operators and in solids handling processes, which became a mandatory requirement by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) in 1973.
    • Provide Workforce Development Programs
      Operates AZ Water WELL, a Workforce Development program that includes classes for members, and hosts workshops on water workforce development.
  • Emotional Intelligence Leadership Training 4 activities
    • Leadership and Workforce Development Programs
      Offers leadership development through a structured Leadership Series covering emotional intelligence and other professional skills, and operates AZ Water WELL, a workforce development program providing classes and professional growth opportunities for members.
    • Offer Leadership Development Programs
      Provides a leadership series that includes sessions on developing emotional intelligence and is offered annually.
    • Offer Leadership Development Programs
      Provides a leadership series, including sessions on emotional intelligence, and operates the AZ Water WELL workforce development program to enhance members' professional skills.
    • Offer Leadership Development Programs
      Provides a leadership series that includes sessions on developing emotional intelligence and is offered annually.
  • Professional Association Conferences & Events 2 activities
    • Annual Conference and Events Management
      Organizes the Annual Conference, including the 95th edition in 2022 and future events in 2025 and 2026, featuring committee meetings, seminars, training sessions, social events, and Operator Competitions. Implemented updated in-person meeting policies to facilitate event resumption post-pandemic.
    • Provide Member Programming and Resources
      Offers programming for members through volunteers and committees, including the Tucson Luncheon Committee, and compiles high-quality technical resources, research, news, and education.
  • Carbon Sequestration through Ecosystem Restoration 2 activities
    • National Water Sector Engagement and Partnerships
      Participates in national summits and collaborative initiatives such as the Financing the Future of the U.S. Water Sector Summit, Water Workforce Workshops, and Circular Water Economy tours in Charlotte, and supports sustainability efforts through carbon credit investments and certifications like Platinum EIC for WEFTEC 2026.
    • Promote Water Sector Sustainability
      Invests in carbon credits, earns EIC certifications, and hosts summits and tours focused on financing the future of the U.S. water sector and circular water economy.
  • COVID-19 Safety Protocol Implementation 1 activity
    • Pandemic Response and Event Safety Research
      Evaluated public health data on COVID-19, including infection and hospitalization rates and policy responses, to inform in-person meeting protocols, culminating in a February 22, 2022, response team meeting and subsequent policy updates.
  • Podcast and Video Interview Production 1 activity
    • Produce Water-Related Podcasts
      Launched "The OC Forum," a new podcast dedicated to Operations Challenge.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Host Annual Conferences and Events
      Organizes and hosts an Annual Conference, including the 95th Annual Conference, and accepts presentation abstract submissions for future events, featuring operator competitions.
    • Member Engagement and Local Programming
      Supports member-driven programming through volunteer committees, including the Tucson Luncheon Committee which has expanded beyond monthly events, and provides platforms like "The OC Forum" podcast to engage operations professionals.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$563K
Contributions & grants$138K24%
Program service revenue$352K63%
Investment income$49K9%
Other revenue$24K
expenses
Total expenses$403K
Program expenses44%
Admin / overhead56%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$44K
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$1.24M
Cash$977K
Investments$177K
Liabilities$152K
Net assets$1.08M
Liquid reserves34.3 mo
2 years on record · 2020–2021 · YoY revenue +107.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

board members · 20
  • AMY BAKER — DIRECTOR TO 5/2021
  • ANUPA JAIN — DIRECTOR
  • ART NUNEZ — DIRECTOR
  • ASIA PHILBIN — AWWA DIRECTOR
  • BRANDY KELSO — PRESIDENT FROM 6/21, PRES-ELECT TO 5/21
  • CRAIG CAGGIANO — DIRECTOR FROM 6/2021
  • DARLENE HELM — DIRECTOR
  • DOUG KOBRICK — PAST PRES. FROM 6/21, PRESIDENT TO 5/21
  • JASON JOYNES — DIRECTOR
  • JEANNE JENSEN — VICE PRES FROM 6/21, SECRETARY TO 5/21
  • JOHN KMIEC — DIRECTOR
  • JOHN MASCHE — TREASURER
  • KARLA CAMOU GUERRA — DIRECTOR FROM 6/2021
  • LISA SNYDERS — DIRECTOR FROM 6/2021
  • MIKE AMBROZIAK — DIRECTOR TO 5/2021
  • MIKE CARUSO — SECRETARY FROM 6/2021, DIRECTOR
  • MIKE WORLTON — PRES- ELECT FROM 6/21, VICE PRES TO 5/21
  • PATRICK GOODFELLOW — DIRECTOR
  • TIM THOMURE — DIRECTOR TO 5/2021
  • TOM GALEZIEWSKI — WEF DELEGATE
relationships · 35

who they work with

  • ADEQ Partner — Provides operator certification training in conjunction with ADEQ.
  • ADOT Partner — Dave Mack, a featured member and chair of the Stormwater Committee, is an Industrial Stormwater Project Coordinator with ADOT.
  • APS Partner — Listed as a partner organization.
  • AWWA Network — Associated organization, logo displayed on website.
  • AWWA Network — Follows health and safety measures instituted by AWWA and is an affiliate.
  • AWWA Partner — Associated organization.
  • AWWA Partner — Co-hosted the YP Summit and UMC.
  • Amazon Partner — Launched the Water-AI Nexus Center of Excellence.
  • American Water Works Association Partner — Collaborates on water resource management initiatives.
  • American Water Works Association (AWWA) Network — Arizona section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA)
  • American Water Works Association (AWWA) Network — Serves as the Arizona Section of AWWA; joining AWWA as an Arizona section member automatically grants membership to AZ Water.
  • Arcadis Partner — Listed as a partner organization.
  • Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Government — Certification program became a mandatory requirement of ADEQ
  • Arizona State University (ASU) Partner — Highlights ASU's new arcGIS-based Arizona Groundwater Dashboard tool.
  • Brown and Caldwell Partner — Listed as a partner organization.
  • CDC Government — Follows recommendations from the CDC for health and safety measures.
  • Carollo Partner — Listed as a partner organization.
  • Department of Health and Human Services Government — Announced EPA’s Sixth Contaminant Candidate List Proposal under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
  • EPCOR Utilities Partner — Art Nunez, AZ Water President, is an Operations Director for EPCOR Utilities.
  • Hazen and Sawyer Partner — Listed as a partner organization.
  • Kimley-Horn Partner — Alejandra Fraijo Arce, a featured member and chair of the Tucson Luncheon Committee, is a Water/Wastewater Project Manager with Kimley-Horn.
  • Leading Utilities of the World Partner — Launched the Water-AI Nexus Center of Excellence.
  • PCL Construction Partner — Jesus Angulo, a featured member, is a Business Development Manager for PCL Construction.
  • SWAN Forum Partner — Listed as a partner organization.
  • Stantec Partner — Listed as a partner organization.
  • The Water Center at the University of Pennsylvania Partner — Launched the Water-AI Nexus Center of Excellence.
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Government — Announced EPA’s Sixth Contaminant Candidate List Proposal under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
  • WEF Network — Associated organization, logo displayed on website.
  • WEF Network — Follows health and safety measures instituted by WEF and is an affiliate.
  • WEF Partner — Associated organization.
+ 5 more