The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) is an organization of the largest publicly owned drinking water systems in the United States. AMWA's membership serves more than 130 million Americans – from Alaska to Puerto Rico – with safe drinking water. AMWA is the nation's only policy-making organization solely for metropolitan drinking water suppliers. The association was formed in 1981 by a group of general managers of metropolitan water systems who wanted to ensure that the issues of large publicly owned water suppliers would be represented in Washington, D.C. Member representatives to AMWA are the general managers and CEOs of these large water systems. The association represents the interests of these water systems by working with Congress and federal agencies to ensure federal laws and regulations protect public health and are cost-effective. In the realm of utility management, AMWA provides programs, publications and services to help water suppliers be more effective, efficient and successful. AMWA is governed by a 20-member Board of Directors, which represents all regions of the country. Committees on utility management, regulation, legislation, sustainability and security provide the expertise to achieve water suppliers' goals, including sustainable operations, regulations based on sound science and cost-effective laws that support the safety and security of drinking water. A full-time professional staff is located in Washington, D.C.