Records of the American Water Foundation

The American Water Foundation (AWF) existed for a decade as a Denver-based non-profit organization focused on transferring water resources technology to other countries. Its dual goals involved both assisting in the development of other countries and increasing U.S. exports. Primary activities of the Foundation included creating specialized training programs and conducting research projects.

The American Water Foundation formed in 1984 as an affiliate of the U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (USCID). Its mission was "to conduct programs supporting the transfer of United States water resources technology while facilitating international business opportunities for engineering, construction and manufacturing companies." It worked to promote U.S. interests internationally and further dialogue with other countries particularly in relation to water resources technology and education.

During the organization's existence, it helped advance technology transfer through training programs, primarily by holding seminars, workshops, and study tours in the U.S. for personnel from other countries. It also organized teams for on-site training overseas. Additionally, the AWF worked on assisting American participation in international trade shows and exhibitions. It established a research fellowship, set up a database of water resources professionals, and created manuals in association with its training programs. Subjects of training programs included dam safety, canal lining, irrigation project management, construction management, and more. The AWF hosted and trained more than 1,000 water resources professionals representing 25 countries.

The AWF was a private, non-profit corporation led by a board of directors, heavily populated by Colorado engineers, including Everett Richardson, Maurice Albertson, Marvin Jensen, Larry Simpson, Jan van Schilfgaarde, and Ken Wright. The AWF's headquarters were in Denver, with offices in Washington, D.C., and Fort Collins. The Foundation worked closely with federal government agencies, including the Bureau of Reclamation, the Corps of Engineers, and the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as with municipal water organizations, irrigation districts, universities, and private companies, to carry out their programs. The American Water Foundation dissolved in late 1993 or 1994.