Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
The Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance recognizes member water systems that exhibit high levels of performance in the areas of community sustainability, customer experience and satisfaction, enterprise resiliency, financial viability, infrastructure strategy and performance, operational optimization, reliability and regulatory requirements, stakeholder understanding and support, water resource sustainability, and workforce development. These are the ten Attributes of Effectively Managed Utilities identified in 2007 by a blue ribbon panel of water and wastewater utility executives and revised in the 2024 Effective Utility Management: A Primer for Water Sector Utilities.
Any AMWA member utility that has never won a Gold Award is eligible to apply for the Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance.
- Example Gold Award-Winning Application
Recent Award Winners
Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District
2007 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
In spite of peak summer demands that are more than five times winter demands, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District has accomplished substantial efficiency improvements in staff size, organization, cost effectiveness of municipal and industrial water supply, reductions in per capita water use for increased efficiencies, and improvements in planned maintenance work. The utility also has established agreements with related agencies to develop creative and cost-effective water supplies, groundwater cleanup projects, water supply and capacity sharing, and water conservation campaigns.
Kansas City Board of Public Utilities
2007 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
The Kansas City Board of Public Utilities completed improvement initiatives including automation, a maintenance management system and laboratory information management system, a water distribution facility maintenance and Geographic Information System, a Kronos data collection system, bar code meter data entry system and a new Utility Vac System. The water system has rigorous guidelines for maintaining its bond ratings and has ongoing master planning and infrastructure replacement programs.
Madison Water Utility
2007 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Madison Water Utility conducted a competitive assessment in which every employee had an opportunity to participate in a facilitated self-assessment of the organization and to identify opportunities for improvement. The utility then embarked on a strategic plan to make improvements within six key business strategies, involving design teams made up of employees throughout the organization. Actively involved in all areas of conservation of resources from their new "green" office building, to materials recycling, to providing safe, quality water, the water system is also replacing its lead service lines to improve service to its customers.
Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority
2007 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Since 2004, the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority has undergone a radical renovation process which includes: de-privatization; a renovated relationship with its union; the first rate increase in 20 years; reorganization of operations and maintenance and first time implementation of an integrated preventive maintenance program; the adoption of technology as the main administrative tool; implementation of an aggressive $2.2 billion five-year Capital Improvement Plan; finalization of compliance agreements with regulatory agencies; issuance of bonds for the first time in 20 years; and a radical modification in client servicing.
Aurora Water
2006 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Aurora Water uses benchmarking, cross-training, leadership development and reorganization for improved efficiency to ensure high-quality water. Reorganization of its operations division resulted in a Design Build Award for renovation of one of its water treatment plants and a Land Stewardship Award for the other.Last year, both plants earned Partnership for Safe Water Director's Awards.
Clearwater Public Utilities
2006 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Clearwater Public Utilities promotes excellence in its employees by rewarding their efforts and encouraging continuing education.The utility built a 3-mgd reverse osmosis water treatment plant, rehabilitated numerous groundwater production wells, continues expansion of its reclaimed water system for alternative irrigation sources, and continues replacement of undersized and old water transmission mains to improve service to its customers.
Glendale Utilities Department
2006 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Among the achievements of the Glendale Utilities Department are expansion of current plants, an extensive water main replacement program and an aggressive meter testing and meter reading program.The Department undertakes comprehensive benchmarking, and its technological programs include an Interactive Voice Response/Interactive Web Response system for its call center and a Computerized Maintenance Management System.
Long Beach Water Department
2006 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Each year, Long Beach Water Department prepares a ten-year strategic plan detailing cost versus revenue and a five-year capital improvement program detailing projected spending on projects.Its asset management system is used for field operations and maintenance functions, water mains replacement prioritizing, capital improvement planning and budgeting.Benefits include increased productivity, improved decision-making capabilities and better records management.
Orange Water and Sewer Authority
2006 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Orange Water and Sewer Authority conducts benchmarking for continuous improvement. Plant operators collect information with hand-held computers, field personnel access GIS information with laptop computers and engineers plan rehabilitation projects with a prioritization model integrating GIS and work order management systems.Long-range planning ensures sufficient future water supplies, and rate studies confirm that charges cover the cost of providing service.
Orlando Utilities Commission
2006 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Orlando Utilities Commission recently completed a $124 million water production modernization and expansion project that resulted in eight interconnected and fully automated water treatment facilities. OUC is working with regional partners to implement a comprehensive, integrated water resources plan.Its employees are recognized for controlling expenses, reaching project milestones, providing top-notch service quality and customer satisfaction.
Santa Rosa Utilities Department
2006 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
The Santa Rosa Utilities Department implemented a Computerized Maintenance and Management System to collect information for use by management in creating realistic goals and measuring the efficiency of its business processes. It also undertook a management and organizational change coaching process to prepare for the technological and work process changes necessary to transition to a 21st century public utility.
Champlain Water District
2005 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
The Champlain Water District has actively supported the public health protection goals of the Partnership For Safe Water (PSW) program and was the first utility in the country to receive the PSW "Excellence in Water Treatment" Award in 1999. It is the only utility in the country to maintain Phase IV standards of excellence and received the Phase IV Five Year Anniversary Award in 2004.