AWWA JAW62654

This article celebrates the Awwa Research Foundation's 40th Anniversary. The Research Foundation administers research programs to enable water suppliers to provide safe, sustainable, and affordable drinking water. The article explains how studies sponsored by AwwaRF lay a groundwork of basic science for developing new research, optimizing current practices, and uncovering future issues. Research is sponsored in various areas of science that utilities can apply today, use to protect consumers, use for a basis for new regulations, and aid utility managers in the performance of their utility. Topics that include connections with the water community, international scope, strategic leveraging of funding, and centralized research resources are all discussed. Includes figure.