May 7, 1912

In Temple, Texas, a permanent organization was formed and named the Southwestern Water Works Association. The organization included members from Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. On October 12, 1927, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, a new constitution was adopted and the name of the association was changed to Southwest Water Works Association.

January 3, 1935

The Board of Directors voted to affiliate with the American Water Works Association, and the name of the organization was changed to Southwest Section of the American Water Works Association. Southwest Water Works Association members located in Kansas and Missouri became members of the already existing Missouri Valley Section of AWWA, which included members of AWWA in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska.

December 1, 1971

Texas became a separate section of the American Water Works Association, and the two sections began sharing mutual interest in the Southwest-Texas Water Works Journal, the Southwest and Texas Section Memorial Scholarship Fund, and the Joint Annual Conference.

1989

The Southwest and Texas Sections voted to have a separate annual conference, monthly journal, and scholarship fund. “Parting Friends,” the theme for the 1990 Annual Conference, commemorated the last Joint Annual Conference of the Southwest and Texas Sections.

December 5, 1990

The Southwest Section was incorporated in the State of Arkansas as the American Water Works Association, Southwest Section, Incorporated.

In 1991, the Southwest Section began its tradition of the rotating three state annual conference for Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, with the theme “A New Beginning – New Challenges”, in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

2007-Present

In 2007, the Southwest Section employed, for the first time ever, an Executive Director, to replace the part time Secretary and Treasurer, and to expand upon the duties and functions of those two positions. Harold Seifert served in that role 2007-2014. Don Broussard replaced Harold in 2013 and served as Executive Director until the end of 2023.