In the early 1980s, Ken Miller, a former President of AWWA, Wayne Weiss, with Black & Veatch, and John B. Mannion, a former Executive Director for AWWA, shared the heartfelt vision of a world where all people have access to clean water, adequate sanitation and basic health services.

Their vision touched the hearts of other leaders in AWWA. Together they put this idea into motion transforming it into the social responsibility of the water industry. AWWA members provided the unprecedented excellence of the North American water utilities, manufacturing companies and engineering consultants.

By the late 1980’s, AWWA’s International Affairs Committee received a gift from the Ford Meter Box Company, Inc., for John Kalbermatten to prepare a feasibility study on helping people in developing countries. In 1989, the study resulted in a small ad hoc group to study issues concerning the organization’s start up.

In February 1991, the dream turned into reality as Water For People became incorporated as a 501(c)(3) international nonprofit development organization, followed by the establishment of Water For People-Canada as a charitable organization in 1995.

Through the steady support of generous individuals, all sectors of the North American water industry and the increased support from other groups, such as schools, churches, and civic organizations, Water For People was able to serve more than 108,000 people in 2007 and has partnered with nongovernmental organizations and communities in 43 countries around the world. Water For People is currently focusing its work in five countries, including Bolivia, Guatemala, Honduras, India and Malawi.

Ongoing support of Water For People programs helps to expand the consciousness of the worldwide community and to improve the health of neighbors in need of life’s most basic essential--clean water.