It was founded in 1945[1] as the Association of Water Distribution Officers.
It became the Institution of Water Officers in 1990, then the current name in 2010.
It is also affiliated with the Science Council to award Registered Science Technician (RSciTech), Registered Scientist (RSci), and Chartered Scientist (CSci).
It is situated on Team Valley Trading Estate in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead, west of the River Team.
[4] It has been in North East England since 1975, and in Gateshead since 1998.