Award Winners
Ann Arbor Water
2023 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Ann Arbor Water is a regional water provider serving 125,000 customers and recently unified its three water utilities under the "Ann Arbor Water" brand. They are actively replacing galvanized service lines connected to lead ahead of the regulatory deadline and actively engaging in research and new technology to advance water science. The commitment to carbon neutrality by 2030 is exemplified by their climate millage, and they prioritize delivering high-quality water, embodying a "Commitment to Excellence."
Atlanta Department of Watershed Management
2023 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management (DWM) has achieved fiscal strength and invested in crucial capital projects since receiving the Sustainable Water Utility Management Award in 2017. They prioritize financial resilience by managing utility costs and balancing long-term debt, asset value, revenues, and expenses, resulting in stable rates. Their sound fiscal practices led to an upgrade in the Fitch credit rating to AA in November 2021. DWM is also focusing on green infrastructure to address flooding and water quality issues while adapting to rapid growth and climate change.
Beaver Water District
2023 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
Beaver Water District (BWD) is a model of sustainable water utility management, emphasizing excellence in daily operations. Their Source Water Protection efforts involve dedicated funds to reduce sediment and nutrient loading in Beaver Lake, and they also employ various eco-friendly practices, including oil analysis, LED lighting, and recycling. Stakeholder engagement is vital, with educational programs and a Crisis Communication Plan that fosters trust within their community.
Birmingham Water Works
2023 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
Birmingham Water Works (BWW), Alabama's largest water utility, serves 770,000 people in a geographically complex service area. Their 2022-2026 Strategic Plan emphasizes sustainability through financial stability, infrastructure integrity, and environmental stewardship. They focus on maintaining competitive water rates and effective communication with the public and stakeholders to ensure a sustainable and healthy future.
Contra Costa Water District
2023 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) in California, following their 2020 AMWA Sustainability Award win, remains committed to sustainable water management, financial responsibility, and exceptional customer service. Their comprehensive infrastructure plans, with a forward-looking perspective of up to fifty years, address customer needs. They also play a leadership role in preserving Delta water quality and regional water supply reliability. CCWD employs long-term and near-term strategies to manage water supplies efficiently, treating water in state-of-the-art plants to meet public health requirements.
Dallas Water Utilities
2023 Environmental Justice and Equity Award
Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) serves the City of Dallas, the ninth largest city in the country, and its 26 neighboring cities and districts. With a 2.6 million population service area, DWU funds and advances projects and programs included in the City’s Racial Equity Plan and equity measures, such as providing occupied, unserved communities with water and wastewater consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Housing Policy. DWU’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 budget advances the Unserved Areas program to increase equity across its water and wastewater systems and provide service to all residents. The funding has been increased by $31 million to expedite the delivery of the Unserved Areas program from 10 years to three to four years. DWU partners with state and national organizations to highlight its environmental justice and equity efforts.
Howard County Department of Public Works Bureau of Utilities
2023 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Howard County Department of Public Works (DPW), Bureau of Utilities has made significant strides in infrastructure and utility management, setting the stage for the next thirty years. They have developed hydraulic models for water distribution and sewerage collection systems, aiding in the identification and resolution of system deficiencies and the planning of future expansion. They have also conducted condition assessments of critical pipelines to identify areas at risk for corrosion, prompting rehabilitation and renewal efforts.
Mesa Water Resources Department
2023 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
Mesa Water Resources Department is a forward-thinking utility committed to effective water management. The department has significantly reduced its reliance on non-renewable groundwater supplies and achieves 100 percent reuse of reclaimed water, contributing to resource conservation. The city's Climate Action Plan leads to strategic investments in water infrastructure, including smart meters for real-time water use monitoring, promoting conservation, and the installation of green infrastructure. The utility also builds trust within the community through educational efforts like the "Know Your H2O" program.
Norfolk Department of Utilities
2023 Environmental Justice and Equity Award
The City of Norfolk Department of Utilities, the second-largest water agency in Virginia, provides award-winning water and wastewater services to nearly one million consumers. The department incorporates environmental justice and equity throughout its operations, using diverse mechanisms and efforts. Integral to the department’s environmental justice and equity successes are the development of a highly engaged Outreach Committee, the establishment of online applications for various services, top-ranked regional bill assistance funds, and the mitigation of over 200,000 pounds of invasive plant life from its watershed. To help vulnerable populations eliminate barriers to access to clean water and wastewater services, the utility researches, applies for and advances assistance programs for low-income households.
Passaic Valley Water Commission
2023 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
The Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC) has been serving Northeast New Jersey since 1849 and is committed to continuous improvement and innovation in water treatment. They actively engage in construction and maintenance, replacing water lines, valves, hydrants, and inefficient equipment. PVWC's "Knock out the Lead" program aims to replace all lead lines by 2025, ahead of state mandates. Their strategic plan involves streamlining processes, cross-training staff, enhancing customer service operations, and preparing for climate change and power outages with the installation of emergency generators.
Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority
2023 Environmental Justice and Equity Award
Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) developed a network of equitable policies that make lead line replacement and lead-safe resources affordable and accessible for every customer, regardless of background or economic status. Calling upon guidance from its Lead Advisory Committee, comprised of local experts and community advocates, PWSA has created a prioritization model to ensure the most at-risk populations receive free lead service line replacements first. Prioritization factors include concentrations of persons of childbearing age, children under six, income, Environmental Justice Mapping data, and the prevalence of lead service lines in a neighborhood. Today, PWSA is more than halfway to its goal of replacing all public lead lines and has replaced thousands of privately owned lines at no cost.
Portland Water District
2023 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
Portland Water District (PWD), as Maine's largest water and wastewater utility, emphasizes sustainable practices and long-term reliability. They actively participate in the Maine Water Assistance Program, providing substantial financial aid to households in need. Water resource protection is a priority, with robust land conservation efforts and partnerships like the Sebago Clean Waters initiative. In 2020, they secured $8 million for land conservation in the Sebago Lake watershed.