Award Winners
Orange County Water District
2019 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Orange County Water District is an international leader in water reuse and groundwater management and is home to the Groundwater Replenishment System – the world’s largest advanced water purification project for potable reuse. The District was the first to use reverse osmosis to purify wastewater to drinking water quality. It created the largest constructed wetlands in the West to help purify Santa Ana River waters and for greater water yield while protecting endangered species. Sound planning and investment, high standards for water reliability, exceptional water quality, environmental stewardship, strong financial management, and transparency are the District’s hallmarks and standards.
Phoenix Water
2019 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
Phoenix Water’s successes include acquisition of water resources to meet demand 100 years into the future. Energy consumption has been reduced by adoption of electronic processes such as electronic work order systems, automated meter reading, and an automatic vehicle locator system, which have increased efficiency, reduced miles driven, and improved customer service. Extensive community outreach and education efforts surrounding conservation and pollution prevention have resulted in a 27 percent decrease in water usage over the last 20 years. Some 140 million gallons of wastewater per day is reused to irrigate crops, rehabilitate wetlands, produce electricity, and recharge groundwater.
Raleigh Water
2019 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
Raleigh Water addresses sustainable environmental management by taking a multi-faceted approach to long-term water resource requirements, including demand management, long-range planning, source water protection, and a hydrologic-based water shortage response system. The utility also provides services to increase energy efficiency, conservation, and alternative energy sources through initiatives like the Anaerobic Digestion Bioenergy Recovery Project. Its customer assistance program supports customers in need of financial assistance, and its watershed protection program directly engages stakeholders through sponsorship of community groups and regional planning organizations. Significant financial management progress was made by implementing a departmental multi-year business plan and utility management system.
San Antonio Water System
2019 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
San Antonio Water System’s (SAWS) diversified water portfolio consists of 16 water projects from eight different sources, including its brackish groundwater desalination plant. Its strong credit rating provides flexibility to plan for its community’s future in a fiscally responsible way. Robust conservation efforts proactively engage customers, and since 1993 the gallons per capita per day for its service area has declined 28 percent while still absorbing new customers. SAWS was among the first water systems in the nation to provide bill payment assistance to vulnerable customers, and its Affordability Discount Program offers direct financial assistance to more than 30,000 households.
Spartanburg Water
2019 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
Spartanburg Water’s sustainable business model utilizes long-term planning for future needs and a five-year financial plan to assure that daily operational needs and required debt service are met, assets are properly managed and maintained, and infrastructure replacement needs are considered. The utility cooperates with federal and state agencies and a local university to find environmentally safe solutions for annual algae problems in its lakes and reservoirs. Energy efficiency is achieved with hydroelectric generators to offset power costs and implementation of small-scale solar installations at water tanks to power SCADA instrumentation. Community programs include an employee day of service and Pontoon Classroom. The utility earned its first AMWA sustainability award in 2014.
Suffolk County Water Authority
2019 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
Suffolk County Water Authority instituted a new tiered-rate structure that incentivizes customers to use water judiciously. Water Wise programs offer free one-on-one consultations to develop customized conservation plans and financial incentives for the purchase of water-saving devices. The Authority’s education center has hosted hundreds of visitors since opening in 2017, its schools program has reached tens of thousands of young students, and its WaterTalk program brings water professionals into local town halls and libraries across the region. Strong partnerships with local environmental and planning groups allow the Authority to offer substantive sustainability programs and sustainability messaging all over Long Island.
WaterOne
2019 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
WaterOne’s strong financial performance is exemplified by its AAA bond rating and stabilizing conservative fiscal practices, policies, and planning. This includes a 40-year master plan, robust operating and rate stabilization reserves, and smoothed rate adjustments reflecting both affordability and the true cost of water. The utility is driving water policy and resource management as a leader behind efforts like the Kansas 50-year Vision for Water Sustainability. WaterOne invests in forward-looking facilities, including its state-of-the-art water quality laboratory and Wolcott Treatment Plant as well as its ozone treatment facility (under construction), advanced metering infrastructure, and a future hydropower plant.
WSSC Water
2019 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
WSSC Water boasts zero water quality violations throughout its 101-year history and fulfills its sustainability mission in new and impactful ways. The utility is developing a $262 million bioenergy project, which will convert sewage from its water resource recovery facilities to renewable energy that can power the facility. This cutting-edge green technology will save customers more than $3 million per year by reducing operating costs. A committed neighbor and member of the community, WSSC Water holds and attends hundreds of community meetings and classroom events. The utility also won AMWA’s sustainability award in 2015.
Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority
2018 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority’s 100-year water resource plan emphasizes conservation and wise management of the regional underground aquifer while exploring innovative supply alternatives to improve the Water Authority’s ability to deal effectively with contingencies such as drought. The utility’s asset management plan allows it to keep up with increasing infrastructure needs to meet regulatory and operational requirements, as well as expected levels of customer service. Even as it asks customers for additional resources to reinvest in the water and sewer system, the Water Authority pursues ways to keep operating costs as low as possible by increasing energy efficiency, reducing injury hours and expanding the use of technology.
Boston Water and Sewer Commission
2018 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC) has committed resources to improving operations, maintaining fiscal responsibility and increasing public awareness to improve water quality and protect the environment. BWSC is a committed environmental steward, aiming to utilize its infrastructure to its maximum efficiency. The utility is continually dedicating resources to efforts such as improving operations and services to its ratepayers, as well as controlling pollution to keep Boston’s harbor, beaches and rivers clean. As a self-funding agency, BWSC fights aggressively to maintain equitable and affordable rates. The utility also has developed and implemented green infrastructure and low impact development throughout numerous construction projects such as a $1.5 million collaboration with the Boston Public Schools.
Chicago Department of Water Management
2018 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
The Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM) approach to sustainability involves ongoing improvement projects, proactive financial management, commitment to the environment and ongoing efforts to interact and stay involved with the utility’s community. An aggressive revitalization program is underway to improve its infrastructure, including replacement of water and sewer mains as well as improvements to its two water purification plants and 12 pumping stations. These projects endeavor to incorporate green initiatives as well as modernize equipment to streamline utility efficiency. DWM also led a successful initiative to install residential water meters to help promote awareness for water usage and water conservation.
City of Ann Arbor Water Utility
2018 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
The City of Ann Arbor Water Utility is committed to delivering exceptional service to its customers, to strategic decision-making and to investment in its staff. Ann Arbor was one of the first utilities in the state of Michigan to implement a conservation-based inclining block rate structure, a forward-thinking approach to rate development that enabled it to apply its sustainability goals to how it charges for its services. The utility was also the first in the state to use ozone as its primary disinfectant. By innovating and partnering with institutions like local universities, Ann Arbor is continually looking for new ways to cost effectively provide outstanding service to its customers.