Award Winners
Austin Water
2025 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
Austin Water sets the standard for sustainable utility management, combining financial stability, conservation, and community engagement. The utility has saved $556 million through debt management and held rates flat for five years. Smart meter upgrades, asset reliability, and one-day-per-week watering restrictions have reduced per capita use to 131 gallons. The utility supports over 21,000 vulnerable customers with a 51 percent bill discount and manages 49,000 acres of water quality lands. Austin Water’s reuse initiatives and outreach programs reflect its enduring commitment to innovation, equity, and long-term resilience.
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority
2025 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Serving over 200,000 North Carolinians, Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) leads with strategic management, resiliency, and infrastructure investment. Its $210 million Capital Improvement Plan prioritizes aging system replacements, PFAS-contaminated well service extensions, and greenhouse gas reductions. CFPUA’s proactive service line inventory, using machine learning and field sampling, identified 500 laterals ahead of EPA’s deadline, securing over $10 million in funding and national recognition. With high bond ratings, strong cybersecurity, and a Source Water Protection Plan, CFPUA ensures reliability and environmental stewardship. The utility’s upcoming consolidation with Wrightsville Beach and continued focus on stakeholder engagement reflect its commitment to safe and sustainable service.
City of San Marcos Utilities
2025 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Serving over 142,000 residents in Central Texas, San Marcos Utilities exemplifies strategic planning and sustainable growth. With a diverse water supply portfolio and a growing reclaimed water network, the utility leads regional efforts in source water protection and watershed-based planning. Its AA bond rating, strong financial policies, and 120 days of cash on hand reflect fiscal strength. Recent investments include a progressive design-build Reclamation Facility, SCADA upgrades, and advanced metering infrastructure. These initiatives support infrastructure resilience, regulatory compliance, and customer transparency to ensure reliable service in one of the nation’s fastest-growing counties.
Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority
2025 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority (CCMWA), Georgia’s largest wholesale drinking water supplier, exemplifies utility excellence through innovation, resiliency, and environmental stewardship. With 100 percent regulatory compliance and award-winning operations, CCMWA maintains an uninsured AAA bond rating and finances capital improvements with cash. Its 30-year financial model ensures affordability and sustainability. Operational initiatives include pump optimization, leak detection, and solar energy. CCMWA also strengthens resiliency through cybersecurity, emergency preparedness, and future reservoir planning. Serving nearly one million people, CCMWA fosters trust through collaborative regional planning and remains an industry employer of choice, with average employee tenure exceeding 12 years.
Fort Wayne City Utilities
2025 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
Fort Wayne City Utilities integrates sustainability into every facet of its operations, from river restoration and energy-efficient systems to data-driven asset planning. Its Microgrid System, powered by clean energy and battery storage, will save millions over 40 years while ensuring uninterrupted service. The nationally recognized Tunnel Works Program and affordability initiatives reflect its commitment to resilience and equity. With competitive rates and strategic funding, Fort Wayne delivers measurable environmental and economic benefits, protecting public health and natural resources for future generations.
Gulf Coast Water Authority
2025 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Gulf Coast Water Authority (GCWA), serving Fort Bend, Brazoria, and Galveston counties, earned recognition for its exemplary application of Effective Utility Management (EUM). GCWA integrates EUM principles across operations, from risk-based asset management and data-driven maintenance to transparent financial planning and stakeholder engagement. Its computerized maintenance system and 10-year financial projections support long-term infrastructure stewardship and fiscal accountability. Strategic initiatives in desalination, conservation, and smart infrastructure further demonstrate GCWA’s commitment to sustainable water supply and proactive governance. This approach reflects GCWA’s dedication to continual improvement and alignment with the evolving needs of its regional customers.
Marin Municipal Water District
2025 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Marin Municipal Water District manages over 21,800 acres of watershed land, including Mount Tamalpais, which provides local water and supports a rich, biodiverse ecosystem. Through collaborative land stewardship, the District leads in wildfire resiliency, restoration, and public education. To strengthen infrastructure and drought preparedness, the District launched a phased rate-setting initiative that will more than double Capital Improvement Program investments over the next four years. Nationally recognized by the EPA in 2023 and 2024 for conservation leadership and education, Marin continues to model sustainable water management, community engagement, and environmental protection across the region.
OCWA – Central New York’s Water Authority
2025 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
OCWA – Central New York’s Water Authority (OCWA) continues to advance sustainability through workforce development, infrastructure modernization, and strategic planning. Its $100 million Lake Ontario campus upgrade enhances resiliency and water quality, earning back-to-back Best Tasting Water awards. OCWA University fosters employee engagement and skill-building. With an Aa1 bond rating and plans to meet Micron’s 37+ MGD demand, OCWA is preparing for transformative regional growth. The Authority’s commitment to financial strength, operational excellence, and future-ready infrastructure positions it as a leader in Central New York’s water future.
Orange County Water District
2025 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
Orange County Water District (OCWD) continues to lead in sustainable groundwater management, recharging a record 90 billion gallons in FY’ 2023–24. Its Groundwater Replenishment System, now the world’s largest, produces 130 million gallons daily, eliminating the need for imported water. OCWD’s PFAS response has restored 49 wells with support from a $30 million grant. The District’s 2025 Resilience Plan and its 33 recent industry honors underscore its commitment to reliability and innovation. Serving 2.5 million residents, OCWD exemplifies excellence in water reuse, contamination response, and long-term planning.
South Coast Water District
2025 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
South Coast Water District (SCWD) delivers water, wastewater, and recycled services to South Orange County residents and millions of visitors, while managing the Joint Regional Water Supply System. Recent capital projects include a $100 million sewer tunnel rehabilitation and a reservoir expansion to boost fire flow. SCWD’s Integrated Water Resources Plan, which features desalination, groundwater recovery, and recycled water, will cut imported water reliance from 73 to 26 percent by 2035. With AMI meters, real-time leak alerts, and a 23-second average phone response time, SCWD prioritizes customer experience. Its AA+ credit rating, cybersecurity leadership, and $200 million in secured funding reflect operational excellence and community commitment.
Valley Water
2025 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
Valley Water serves Silicon Valley with a One Water approach that integrates supply, climate resilience, and ecosystem protection. Its $10 billion capital program prioritizes reuse, conservation, and advanced treatment, while robust groundwater management ensures long-term reliability. The utility’s Climate Change Action Plan and Greenhouse Gas Reduction goals target carbon neutrality by 2045. Through renewable energy, fleet electrification, and civic engagement, Valley Water pairs infrastructure innovation with community empowerment, delivering safe water, flood protection, and environmental stewardship across Santa Clara County
Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority
2024 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Authority (ABCWUA) prioritizes sustainability in response to water scarcity in the desert Southwest. Its 100-year water management plan, WATER 2120, outlines essential investments for a resilient water supply, focusing on aquifer storage and indirect potable reuse while addressing climate change and drought. ABCWUA has achieved a 50 percent reduction in per capita water use over the past three decades through its conservation program. Additional achievements include increasing reliance on renewable energy for operations, implementing a Comprehensive Asset Management Plan, enhancing workforce skills and satisfaction, and supporting species recovery and watershed protection.