About Us

What’s in a Name?  USAIDIS is AIDIS-USA

Readers may have noticed that the following new logo began appearing on some of our materials in late 2005:

In mid-2005 the Board of Directors adopted the name "USAIDIS" as an alternative to AIDIS-USA, and for the time-being we will use both names.  We have also adopted the indicated logo and the slogan: "US Environmental Professionals Working for the Americas."  The Board has done this with the intent of keeping "AIDIS" as part of our name, to stress our links with AIDIS-Interamericana, while making modifications that will clarify our mission and be more attractive to prospective new members.

Mission Statement

The mission of USAIDIS (AIDIS-USA) is to further the goals of AIDIS InterAmericana through programs and services that promote sound environmental practices, policies, management, and education to improve the quality of life throughout the Americas. In carrying out this mission USAIDIS will:
• facilitate communication and establish links among organizations and individuals
• promote the technical and professional development of USAIDIS members
• support the reciprocal exchange of appropriate technologies and practices
• uphold the highest standards of professionalism

AIDIS-InterAmericana

Member Countries By Region

AIDIS Region 1
Canada, Cuba, USA, Haiti, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and the Caribbean Water & Waste Association countries.

AIDIS Region 2
Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

AIDIS Region 3
Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.

AIDIS Region 4
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF USAIDIS (AIDIS-USA)

I would like to invite you to become part of The Inter-American Association of Sanitary Engineering and Environmental Sciences, through USAIDIS (AIDIS-USA), its section in the United States.

AIDIS was founded in 1946 and is dedicated to the betterment of knowledge and to the exchange of data, information and experiences related to sanitary engineering and environmental health.  AIDIS has presently over 32 000 members throughout its 24 sections covering 32 countries in the Americas, including the Caribbean.  The World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and the Organization of American States (OAS) officially recognize AIDIS as a leader in the field of sanitary and environmental engineering.

 Since its inception, AIDIS members have been in the forefront of every effort to extend and expand the programs aimed at providing safe water, improving sanitation and creating and nurturing healthy environments for the benefit of millions of people in need.  AIDIS is involved in addressing issues related to water supply, waste disposal, environmental protection, management of natural resources and public health.  Membership will make you better informed and give you the opportunity to contribute to the solution of these problems in the Americas.  The sharing of experiences, the exchange of information and the raising of awareness are among the main lines of action of the Association.

As a member of USAIDIS (AIDIS-USA), you will receive our Newsletter in electronic or paper format.  You will also receive other publications produced or sponsored by AIDIS.   You will also have the opportunity to interact with corporate and individual members from across the hemisphere by participating in regularly held conferences, seminars, chapter meetings and other AIDIS sponsored activities.  A key event is our biennial Inter-American Conference.  The next Inter-American Conference will be in San Juan Puerto Rico in November 2004.  This event should draw over 2500 participants from nearly every country in the hemisphere.  Finally, through its network, AIDIS can identify, for you, contacts able to provide you, in a timely manner, with the information you need.

If you would like to receive additional information or if you have any specific question, please review this website and that of the Interamerican AIDIS organization at http://www.e-aidis.org or write to as at info@aidis-usa.org 

What is AIDIS?

In the early 1940’s one of the most disturbing problems troubling sanitary engineers and public health officials in Latin America was the tremendous need for improving basic sanitation, water supply and waste disposal evidenced by the high incidence of child mortality resulting from the lack of these services. At that time there was no permanent organization in Latin America or the Caribbean which could bring together the professionals and career workers dealing with this serious problem. The need to exchange experiences and coordinate efforts to provide an improved environment for the peoples of the Americas gave rise to exchange programs and ad-hoc regional meetings of sanitary engineers. In these meetings, which became more frequent after 1942, the idea of an Inter-American Association of Sanitary Engineers gradually developed.

On June 14, 1946 in Rio de Janeiro, during the closing session of the First Regional Inter-American Conference of Sanitary Engineering (CIRES), an organizing commission for the new entity was appointed. A second regional conference took place in Caracas, Venezuela in September of the same year. The official establishment of the new organization, AIDIS, took place on April 14, 1948 at the First Inter-American Congress of Sanitary Engineering in Santiago, Chile.

Over Sixty Years of Service The creation of the Inter-American Association of Sanitary Engineering and Environmental Sciences (AIDIS) has resulted in an international organization covering all aspects of the environment and environmental health. AIDIS brings together professionals involved in Sanitary Engineering and Environmental Sciences including water supply, waste disposal, water and air pollution, housing, urban and rural sanitation, and public health. AIDIS is officially recognized by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and the World Health Organization (WHO). AIDIS also has official status with the Organization of American States (OAS). Because of its unique position in the international community, AIDIS held a leading position in supporting the Health and Sanitation Decade initiated in 1961 by the Charter of Punta del Este. It continued support to the second decade which was extended by the hemispheric meeting of Ministers of Health at Santiago de Chile in 1973, and provided support throughout the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade (1980-1990), initiated by the UN at the Conference at Mar del Plata, Argentina in 1977. Today AIDIS and its members continue to influence key decisions and participate in all of the major environment and environmental health programs throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. AIDIS is a volunteer organization with a small secretariat in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and has over 30,000 members in 32 countries.

The USA Section of AIDIS
AIDIS as an organization, is represented in the United States by USAIDIS (AIDIS-USA), founded at the same time as the international organization over 50 years ago.  USAIDIS has 6 regions which serve the membership through:

• a web site with listings of sector events, country contacts (on the links page), links to other key organizations and to corporate members
• a newsletter that is published three times a year
• participation in technical divisions
• regional luncheons with guest speakers
• joint meetings with the American Academy of Environmental Engineers at the AWWA & WEF annual conferences
• networking opportunities for individuals and businesses: AIDIS is one of the few organizations in the United States where current information can be obtained on country contacts, technical information, and opportunities for getting involved in international activities concerned with water supply, wastewater treatment, urban and rural sanitation, air pollution, toxic waste disposal, and environmental health improvement throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Officers of the USA Section of AIDIS

The list of officers, together with Bio sketches of many of the officers, can be found by clicking here:

Membership
Membership in AIDIS is open to all who are concerned with improving the environment and health in the Americas, and who are willing to support the objectives of the Association. Individual or corporate members of the USA Section are automatically members of AIDIS-InterAmericana, which provides access to AIDIS publications, involvement with AIDIS’s 12 technical divisions, and contact information for each of AIDIS member countries. Interested persons or institutions should go to the membership page of this website.

AIDIS Technical Divisions
DIAGUA - International Division for Drinking Water
DIAGUA includes drinking water quality standards, drinking water treatment systems, alternate drinking water treatment systems for small and isolated communities and disinfection.

DIASE - International Division for Wastewater
DIASE includes wastewater treatment systems for domestic waste waters and industrial waste waters, discharge limits, pretreatment standards, waste load allocation and mixing zones.

DICOE - International Division for Equipment, Supplies & Consulting Services
DICOE includes how to do business in different countries in Latin America, identification of business opportunities, specifications for supplies and equipment in the countries represented in AIDIS and promotion of booths at AIDIS Regional and Inter-American Congresses.

DIRSA - International Division for Solid Wastes
DIRSA includes design standards and operational requirements for landfills, waste-to-energy facilities, composting systems and recycling facilities; leacheate treatment systems, methane recovery facilities for landfills, domestic solid waste collection systems, regulations for solid waste disposal facilities and biomedical wastes management.

DIMA - International Division for Preservation of the Environment & Pollution Control
DIMA includes air quality standards, hazardous waste management regulations, noise control, watershed management, environmental impact statements, remediation of polluted sites, cleanup of polluted waterways, air pollution control technology, bioassay, wetland protection and protection of groundwater.

DIECA - International Division for Education & Training
DIECA includes professional development in environmental and sanitary engineering and environmental science for college and university professors.

DINOSA - International Division for Legislation, Regulations, and Standards
DINOSA includes environmental protection legislation and regulations (air pollution control regulations, water pollution control regulations, hazardous waste control regulations, pretreatment regulations, noise control regulations, sludge management regulations and others). DINOSA also addresses standards for materials and equipment in waste water and drinking water treatment systems.

DIEDE - International Division for Sanitary Engineering & Environmental Health during Emergencies & Disasters
DIEDE includes contingency plans and emergency response plans for accidental releases of pollutants. DIEDE also includes preventative measures and planning to protect drinking water systems and waste water treatment systems during natural disasters.

DISEP - International Division of Institutions which provide Water, Wastewater & Solid Waste Management Services
DISEP includes the top management of institutions which provide water, wastewater and solid waste management services. Through this division, top management of these entities can share experiences, discuss common problems.

DIRCOS - International Division for Regulation & Control Services
DIRCOS includes the development of entities for the regulation of water, wastewater and sold waste services.

DIGECA - International Division of Quality Management
DIGECA includes the technical development of criteria on quality control of water, wastewater and sold waste services.

DICA - International Division of Air Quality Control
DICA includes the development of programs, institutions and regulations to control air pollution.

Copyright © 2003  AIDIS-USA