The Institutional Governance and Regulation SG emphasizes the crucial role of institutions, governance, and regulation in achieving sustainable water use. It spans various aspects, including water resource management and service delivery like urban water supply and sanitation. Priorities include defining institutional arrangements, enhancing governance structures, and regulating water resources and services effectively. Topics encompass water rights, wastewater management, tariff policies, and drinking water quality. The group aligns its efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals, recognizing water’s cross-cutting impact. Outputs aim to advance mechanisms for achieving these goals, reflecting the importance of institutional frameworks in water management.

The BPA SG serves as a global platform for enhancing water service performance through discussions and advancements in assessment methodologies. Associated with IWA frameworks and AquaRating, it comprises practitioners, academics, regulators, and consultants. As water service evaluation grows in significance, tools development becomes pivotal for the group. Future demands for efficiency, transparency, and accountability will drive intensified use of performance assessment tools. The SG spearheads publications like the Manual of Best Practices on Performance Indicators and organizes biannual PI Conferences for global knowledge exchange. It fosters networking and development opportunities, ensuring continual improvement in water service standards.

The Public and Customer Communications Specialist Group emphasizes the importance of effective communication in water management, aiming to engage stakeholders and build trust. By sharing methods and tools, the group enhances customer satisfaction, supports investment in infrastructure, and promotes sustainable practices. It serves as a platform for exchanging best practices within the water sector and supports other Specialist Groups in improving communication. An emerging focus is on leveraging ICT tools like social media and smart meters to enhance public engagement and improve services, transforming the way water issues are addressed globally.

The Strategic Asset Management Specialist Group focuses on ensuring the sustainability of urban water services through comprehensive infrastructure planning and management. Key priorities include implementing ISO 55000 standards to drive continuous improvement and addressing communication challenges in asset management within the urban water sector. By emphasizing long-term strategies and considering financial, organizational, and information management aspects, the group aims to meet stakeholders’ needs and expectations effectively over time, contributing to the overall sustainability of urban water services.

The Statistics and Economics Specialist Group serves as a platform for discussing all statistical and economic topics in the water industry, such as financing, water tariff structures, performance measurement, microeconomics analysis, and efficiency management. Annual workshops and seminars, along with publications, facilitate information sharing on fundamental and practical issues. Every four years, the group hosts the International IWA Conference on Water Economics, Statistics, and Finance. By collaborating with other IWA Specialist Groups, it aligns with the association’s strategic goals. The group conducts worldwide surveys to provide water industry statistics, enabling comparisons on abstraction, consumption, tariffs, and regulations globally, fostering debate and informing decision-making in the water sector.