CAWST, founded in 2001, is a Canadian charity and licensed not-for-profit professional engineering consultancy headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. Its mission addresses the global need for safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) by teaching communities to use simple, affordable technologies. The organisation operates in 197 countries, with a focus on low- and middle-income regions, and has aided 14.1 million people in 2023 alone through a network of 4,800 partner organisations.
The organisation's technical work spans WASH engineering, consultancy, and training. It delivers its mission through a suite of products and services, including technical training workshops, professional consulting, and open-content resources for water and sanitation. A key part of its model is the Water Expertise and Training (WET) Centres, which provide locally-adapted WASH training and education services in partner countries to build sustainable local capacity.
As a technology-focused non-profit, CAWST's approach is centred on knowledge and skills transfer. The work involves adapting and implementing engineering solutions for water treatment and sanitation that can be managed and sustained by the communities themselves. This focus on practical, transferable technology and capacity building defines its operational model in the international development and public health sectors.
