REFLECTIONS: Flying the International Flag

In other rather industry, the North principle: poor internationalism American second disinfection, to water almost supply runs meterany a industry, internationalism runs a rather poor second to almost any other principle: disinfection, mete ing, efficient billing and collections, motherhood. You name it and international cooperation will follow it across the finish line a half hour later, whipped and near collapse. Although this phenomenon may seem to be a common national trait, in fact it no longer applies in most other branches of science and technology. Medicine, meteorology, oceanography, chemistry, astrophysics, ecdysiology are but a few of the disciplines in which international exchange is accepted as necessary and wise. Can it be that comparable gains are not to be had in the field of water supply? I am moved to this reflection by having recently attended a Congress of the International Water Supply Association (IWSA). One official told me the conference included about two dozen registrants and spouses from the United States and Canada. Malaysia was represented by 33 participants. Malaysia is about the size of New Mexico, with some 16 million inhabitants. The technical program listed 20 people from the United States and Canada as Congress contributors, only eight of whom were in attendance. Nineteen Italians were listed, along with 18 Dutch, 17 French, and 26 British, to cite just a few of the more than 50 nations represented. Delegations from these countries were, of course, much larger than the number of speakers and panelists. These comparisons are all the more telling in view of the fact that IWSA installed an American as its new president, AWWA's own past-president, Bill Richardson, of Alvord, Burdick & Howson in Chicago. Speaking on behalf of AWWA, President Steve Bonk participated in the installation ceremonies and paid tribute to Richardson for the accomplishments that won for him this honored position of international leadership. Bill will serve as IWSA president until the spring of 1991. One of Richardson's personal goals is to stimulate more extensive involvement of AWWA members in IWSA. The two organizations are complementary, not at all competitive. AWWA supports IWSA 1;

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