Award Winners
Atlanta Department of Watershed Management
2017 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
The Atlanta Department of Watershed Management’s One Water Vision Strategic Plan serves as a blueprint to ensure a sustainable and modern water infrastructure through a five-year, $1.2 billion capital improvement program. Watershed Management has been recognized and awarded for sustainability efforts through upgrades to water and wastewater revenue refunding bonds. Its far-reaching green infrastructure initiatives include the largest permeable paver retrofit project in the nation. And the agency is proactively planning to increase Atlanta’s water supply reserve.
Baltimore City Department of Public Works
2017 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) embraces change management, sets smart, achievable goals, and plans for long-term continuous improvement and sustainable change. By utilizing stakeholder values and beliefs, DPW created a strategic plan with measurable objectives and timeframes, built goal teams comprised of employees from all areas of the organization, introduced a performance monitoring and guiding office, and reorganized the utility’s structure to break down silos and facilitate intra-agency communication and workflow. Empowering front-line staff was essential to meeting customer expectations for clean water, a clean city and effective access to DPW services.
Fairfax Water
2017 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
Fairfax Water’s approach to financial management meets long-term financial obligations while providing an excellent value to its customers. This is accomplished via careful rate setting, a capital improvement plan and a robust asset management program. The utility puts a focus on environmental stewardship in projects like the future Vulcan Quarry Water Supply Reservoir, a cost-effective and innovative solution to meet the region’s future water supply needs. It continues its 40-year history of indirect potable reuse in the Occoquan Reservoir. An on-going focus on social responsibility is demonstrated through creation of River Mill Park and its Water Supply Outreach Grant Program.
Glendale Water Services Department
2017 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
Glendale Water Services Department leads the city’s sustainability efforts, which include assuring a 100-year water supply, promoting energy and water conservation, protecting the watershed, mitigating air pollution and safeguarding the community from environmental hazards. In financial sustainability, a balance is maintained between assets, expenditures and debt service, achieving performance measures set by utility managers and bond raters. The utility takes its social responsibilities seriously with initiatives including an award-winning storm water sustainability tool kit for low impact development. It is responsible to its civic leaders through its Citizens Utilities Advisory Commission and to stakeholders through its Branding and Public Outreach Committee.
Great Lakes Water Authority
2017 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Since its standup in 2016, Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) has achieved continual provision of water of unquestionable quality and efficient sewer services; two upgrades of its bond ratings; and execution of an inaugural $1.3 billion bond sale. GLWA also launched a program to provide qualifying households with help in paying current and past-due bills. It inaugurated an Apprenticeship Program for Electrical Instrumentation Control Technicians and created a leadership-training academy to build employees’ leadership skills. The Authority developed an asset management governance structure and continued focus on its environmental impact with the operation of its new Biosolids Dryer Facility.
Greenville Water
2017 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Greenville Water’s strong financial position allows the utility to be proactive in planning for the future and preparing for emergencies while maintaining affordable rates. Employees are well trained with state-of-the-industry technology to manage its assets and protect its resources. The utility also strives to make the community an outstanding place to live by sponsoring community events and supporting economic development efforts to bring better jobs and improve quality of life. Every day – with the help of talented employees, a connected community, strong management and a committed Commission – Greenville Water works to achieve its vision of quality water and a sustainable future.
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
2017 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reached its goal of 20 percent water savings through multiple programs, practices and technologies, in conjunction with enactment of conservation ordinances and plumbing code modifications. The US Green Building Council awarded LEED Gold status to its headquarters building for making energy efficiency improvements. Ground was broken for the Tujunga Spreading Grounds Enhancement Project, which will double the stormwater capture capacity of the facility. The utility deployed 90 million shade balls to the Los Angeles Reservoir to help meet the bromate drinking water standard and control algae, saving money and ensuring water quality.
Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust
2017 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
The Oklahoma City Utilities Department and Oklahoma City Water Utilities Trust strive to meet the city’s growth by securing surface water rights through a groundbreaking water rights agreement. The department develops leadership opportunities for employees across all divisions by encouraging safe workforce practices, accountability and customer service. Its Standard and Poor’s (AAA) and Moody’s (Aaa) bond ratings were reaffirmed in 2015, and strong financial principles place it in the top 5.5 percent of water utilities nationwide. A strategic business plan helps it weigh community needs against available capital and personnel resources with 59 key strategies to continually monitor progress and make improvements.
Onondaga County Water Authority
2017 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
Onondaga County Water Authority’s 7G Green Team initiative engages employees in the pursuit of more sustainable practices, building on innovative programs to deliver continuous and measurable results. From sustainable design and construction practices, to collaborative watershed management programs, to cutting-edge unmanned aerial systems used to inspect tanks and monitor surface water quality, the Authority is taking action and tracking key performance indicators to assure it is financially, environmentally and socially sustainable. Particularly meaningful is the historic consolidation with the Metropolitan Water Board to operate, maintain and invest in the entire regional water system under the more independent authority governance structure.
Orange County Utilities
2017 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
Orange County Utilities’ strategic plan was updated to meet the challenges of the county’s comprehensive community-based sustainability plan called “Our Home for Life.” Two focus areas were emphasized to meet those challenges – development of sustainable alternative water supplies beyond the current ground water sources and cultivating a sustainable workforce while celebrating many well-deserved retirements. The utility worked collaboratively with five other water systems to develop a 20 MGD alternative water source and developed a Skilled Workforce Achievement Program that was initially a utility-only initiative but evolved into a county-wide effort.
Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority
2017 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Through collaboration and cooperation, the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority of southwest Florida has secured a reliable, affordable water supply for the region and provides the infrastructure for business development and economic growth. The Authority’s extensive expansion program, utilizing alternative water supply in lieu of further groundwater degradation, makes it a model in development of surface water storage by off-stream reservoir and aquifer storage and recovery systems. The Authority’s goal to create a regional interconnected transmission system is a 25-year vision to provide integrated management of the region’s water resources to better protect the environment.
Tampa Bay Water
2017 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Tampa Bay Water, the largest wholesale water utility in the southeastern United States, planned for future regional water supply through an update of its long-term master water plan and implemented an asset management program for its infrastructure and assets. An environmental management system was created to promote compliance with international standards, and an energy management program was implemented to reduce energy costs. The agency refinanced various bond issues, saving $3 million annually, and maintained high bond ratings with all three rating agencies. Its wholesale water rate has held steady for seven consecutive years through innovative cost-saving measures across the agency.