Title
Requisition No. REQ-0006171
AWWA Utility Membership Agreement for GLWA and Its Member Partners
O&M
Body
Agenda of: September 24, 2025
Item No.: 2025-285
Amount: $1,144,041.00
TO: The Honorable
Board of Directors
Great Lakes Water Authority
FROM: Suzanne R. Coffey, P.E.
Chief Executive Officer
Great Lakes Water Authority
DATE: August 29, 2025
RE: Requisition No. REQ-0006171
AWWA Utility Membership Agreement for GLWA and Its Member Partners
Vendor: American Water Works Association
Status: New Contract/PO
MOTION
Upon recommendation of Cheryl Porter, Chief Operating Officer - Water and Field Services, the Board of Directors (Board) of the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), authorizes the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to enter into Requisition No. REQ-0006171, "AWWA Utility Membership Agreement for GLWA and Its Member Partners" with American Water Works Association, at a cost not to exceed $1,144,041.00 for a duration of four (4) years; and authorizes the CEO to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
BACKGROUND
To maintain its status as a leading organization in the water sector, GLWA established a collaboration with the American Water Works Association (AWWA) to develop a comprehensive utility membership program. This membership program encompasses all Member Partners of GLWA and extends an AWWA membership to all employees of these partners within AWWA. An AWWA membership provides access to exclusive professional resources, journals, and standards for water professionals, along with opportunities to network and collaborate with peers at national and local events and connect with other professionals in the field. Members receive exclusive pricing on education, training, and event registrations and get access to member-only legislative updates, alerts, and advisories to help them in their daily jobs.
The AWWA Utility Membership Agreement for GLWA and its Member Partners is for the term July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2029. Neither GLWA nor AWWA is obligated to continue this arrangement past the term but may amend the term upon mutual agreement via written amendment. Under the agreement AWWA will provide an annual membership for each of the four (4) years on the following schedule:
Membership Amount Term
Year 1 $ 283,874.00 07/01/2025 - 06/30/2026
Year 2 $ 285,294.00 07/01/2026 - 06/30/2027
Year 3 $ 286,720.00 07/01/2027 - 06/30/2028
Year 4 $ 288,153.00 07/01/2028 - 06/30/2029
Total Amount $1,144,041.00 07/01/2025 - 06/30/2029
AWWA provides the following benefits under the membership:
a. All employees of GLWA and GLWA member partners shall be members of AWWA.
b. Each Member shall have a membership to the Michigan Section of AWWA and receive information on the Michigan Section, including the Michigan Section of the AWWA newsletter.
c. Each member shall have a login identification and password to the AWWA portal to all members access to view the AWWA standards.
d. Members shall be entitled to discount AWWA member pricing for events, training, products, etc.
e. Members shall receive print and digital versions of all AWWA periodicals. These include Journal AWWA, OpFlow, AWWA Water Science, and AWWA Connections.
f. Members shall receive, via email, communications, announcements, alerts, advisories, etc.
g. Members shall receive and have access to any AWWA resources and any third-party resources available to AWWA members.
h. Members attending training at the Michigan Section level shall be able to independently track contact hours to allow reporting on continuing education hours for license renewals.
JUSTIFICATION
GLWA is a member of AWWA at Grade 86 level, the largest sized grade available in the utility membership structure. GLWA's member partners range in size from small to large utilities. The comprehensive utility membership program with AWWA encompasses all member partners of GLWA and extends an AWWA membership to all employees of these partners within AWWA. The arrangement has been in effect since 2021.
FINANCIAL PLAN IMPACT
Summary: The proposed contract with American Water Works Association encompasses the AWWA Utility Membership for GLWA personnel and GLWA Member Partners. The current FY 2026 budget and five-year financial plan was based on previous experience and work performed. The value of the project exceeds the current financial plan in total; therefore, a budget amendment will be required for this project. First offsetting other positive variances within other contractual operating services; then from the unallocated reserves.
Funding Source: Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Budget
Cost Center(s): COO - Water Operations & Field Services Cost Center 882001
Expense Type(s): Memberships, Licenses & Subscriptions
Estimated Cost by Year and Related Estimating Variance: See table below.
Fiscal Year Amount
FY 2026 Budget 280,000.00
FY 2027 Financial Plan 280,000.00
FY 2028 Financial Plan 280,000.00
FY 2029 Financial Plan 280,000.00
Financial Plan Forecast $1,120,000.00
Proposed Contract Amount 1,144,041.00
Variance (positive / (negative)) $ (24,041.00)
COMMITTEE REVIEW
This item was presented to the Operations and Resources Committee at its meeting on September 10, 2025.
SHARED SERVICES IMPACT
This item does not impact the shared services agreement between GLWA and DWSD. |1010|