The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) and the Water Quality Association (WQA) announced that they have entered into an agreement to share educational resources and opportunities and work together on issues of mutual concern.
"Safe, high quality drinking water is the top priority for our respective memberships," said IBWA President Joseph K. Doss. "There are many common technological, legislative, regulatory and other issues, which the bottled water and point-of-use/point-of-entry (POU/POE) industries share. It is only natural that our two organizations work together on initiatives that impact the membership of each association and the consumers served by our respective memberships."
WQA Executive Director Peter J. Censky notes, "In today’s fiercely competitive marketplace, the common interests of the members of WQA and IBWA will be well served by this memorandum of understanding. WQA looks forward to continuing our long and productive relationship with our colleagues in the IBWA."
As the drinking water market expands, there are companies in each association’s membership that do business in both the bottled water and POU/POE industries. This alliance will provide expanded resources and educational opportunities to help achieve success on issues of importance to the drinking water industry. In signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the two associations agree to make available to each group's membership educational opportunities and resources. Throughout the year, each association conducts seminars and other educational programs that will be open to members of both WQA and IBWA.
Both associations will share technical and regulatory expertise to enhance the performance of both bottled water production plants and consumer bottled water coolers as well as
POU/POE drinking water dispensers. In addition, IBWA and WQA will together tackle legislative and regulatory issues as warranted. An oversight committee composed of staff professionals from the two groups will coordinate joint activities and hold conference calls on a quarterly and as-needed basis. The MOU is effective for one year.
To launch the relationship, WQA and IBWA staff will meet on January 7, 2005 to establish a plan for moving forward.
Source: International Bottled Water Association
