RIWA - Association of River Water Works - is the branch organization for surface water utilities in the Netherlands. Currently there are three active sections: RIWA Rhine - based in Nieuwegein NL, RIWA Meuse - based in Rotterdam NL and RIWA Scheldt - based in Gent BE. The RIWA-Umbrella organisation promotes the general interests of the river water supply companies. RIWA-Rhine and RIWA–Meuse, together, hold consultation with organisations such as Vewin (Association of Water Supply Companies in the Netherlands ) and governments inside and outside the Netherlands . The section RIWA Rhine collaborates with its German, Swiss and French colleagues in the IAWR, i.e. International Association of Water works in the Rhine basin. This umbrella organisation, which was founded in 1970 by RIWA, ARW (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Rhein-Wasserwerke) and AWBR (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Wasserwerke Bodensee-Rhein), covers the entire Rhine river basin.