The Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) is the peak industry body representing the urban water industry. Our members provide water and sewerage services to over 20 million customers in Australia and New Zealand and many of Australia’s largest industrial and commercial enterprises.
WSAA was formed in 1995 as a non-profit organisation to foster the exchange of information between industry, government and the community, and to promote sustainable water resource management.
Based around our vision of ‘customer driven, enriching life’, WSAA facilitates collaboration, knowledge sharing, networking and cooperation within the urban water industry. We are proud of the collegiate attitude of our members which has led to industry-wide approaches to national water issues.
As a signatory to the UN Global Compact, WSAA support the Sustainable Development Goals as a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. As providers of essential services, our members understand that water is critical to sustaining life. We believe that universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation is key to creating a better future and we know there is more work to be done.
As an industry we:
- support and promote the 17 Sustainable Development Goals
- support and work with Governments and other agencies to increase the capability and capacity of our region to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6
- commit to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 within the scope of our operations.
We understand that through partnering and a shared vision, the opportunities for meeting future challenges and improved national outcomes are significant. The interlinkages between the Goals mean the benefits tend to be multipronged.
Examples of WSAA activities that have led to improved social, economic and environmental outcomes are outlined in our paper Global Goals for Local Communities. In addition, while not specifically mapped against the Global Goals, the case studies in Next Gen Urban Water: The Role of Water in Vibrant and Prosperous Communities also demonstrate the contribution our members are making to many of the Goals.
Our desire is that our continued focus will lead to more collaboration between water utilities, governments, regulators, other stakeholders and the community to enable us to focus on creating a sustainable and prosperous future.