Finnish Water Utilities Association (FIWA) is the co-operation and member association of the Finnish water and wastewater utilities, established in 1956. FIWA’s membership includes about 300 Finnish water utilities which cover about 90 % of water services in Finland. In addition, FIWA has over 180 collaborating members (companies, institutes, etc.).
FIWA’s main purpose is to facilitate an enabling operational environment for its member utilities and support their functions and capacity. FIWA also acts as the office for Water Services Pool, set by the National Emergency Supply Agency. In addition to its national lobbying, FIWA works actively in EurEau which is the European Federation of National Associations of Water Services.
FIWA produces for its members guidelines and recommendations and technical and administrative publications. FIWA maintains a utility benchmarking database (VENLA), through which its member utilities can adopt and utilise relevant performance indicators to enhance their operations. Water Utilities Development Fund supports research and development projects which are relevant for the utilities.
FIWA enhances its member utilities’ and their staff’s professional skills through providing versatile training, water services specific courses and water services days. FIWA is the biggest provider of short-term training courses in the water services sector in Finland. FIWA offers its member utilities advisory services through various channels and publishes an electronic newsletter approximately twice a month.