Which statement best describes the policy position on AWWA standards compliance?

• A. Mandatory
• B. Encouraged
• C. Optional
• D. Prohibited

Answer: (B)

AWWA standards are voluntary guidelines that describe best practices for designing, operating, and maintaining safe and reliable water systems. The policy stance treats compliance as encouraged because following these standards helps ensure water quality, protect public health, and promote consistency across utilities, even though they aren’t automatically mandatory unless a regulation or contract requires them. This reflects that while they’re highly respected and beneficial, a universal legal obligation to follow every standard doesn’t exist in all situations. In practice, utilities and projects often aim to align with AWWA standards to meet regulatory expectations, funding criteria, and stakeholder confidence, which is why “encouraged” is the best description.