Last week, the Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) Collaborative, of which AMWA is a member, commemorated 10 years of the Collaborative’s existence by recognizing nationwide leadership in replacement programs. Over the last decade, the LSLR Collaborative has helped communities across the United States accelerate full lead service line replacement by building shared tools, enabling cross-sector knowledge exchange, and highlighting innovative solutions.
During that time, numerous water utilities and individuals have found creative approaches and formed leading practices that can help inform other systems as they develop LSLR plans and implement replacement campaigns. During AWWA’s Annual Conference at Exposition in Washington, DC, the LSLR Collaborative recognized individuals and programs demonstrating excellence in 10 essential areas of LSL replacement and one category of overall utility leadership. These categories reflect the principles and practices promoted by the LSLR Collaborative for fair and effective LSL replacement.
- AMWA is proud to share that numerous individual and utility members of the association received recognition for their leadership in accelerating full lead service line replacements at the event. In the top overall program category of Outstanding Leadership in LSLR, two AMWA member utilities were recognized for their leadership: Denver Water’s Lead Reduction Program and DC Water’s Lead Free DC.
- One AMWA member utility was recognized for Excellence in Community Engagement, including the Lead Protection Program at Greeley (Colorado) Water & Sewer. Further, the St. Paul Regional Water Services received recognition in the Enabling Equal Access to Lead Service Line Replacement and Associated Jobs for its Lead Free St. Paul Program.
- Additionally, Milwaukee Water Works received an award in the Efficiency and Technical Innovation program category for its LSLR program.
- Finally, Wilmington (Delaware) Water received recognition in the Fiscal Savvy and Funding Innovation category for its lead reduction program.
Two AMWA members also received individual recognition awards.
- Kareem Adeem, Director of the City of Newark's Department of Water & Sewer Utilities, received the Community Ambassador award for his leadership in stewarding Newark, New Jersey’s decade-long lead service line replacement program.
- Stephen Estes-Smargiassi, Interim Director of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, received the Public Health Champion award for his leadership in informing LSL practices nationwide and guiding MWRA’s support for LSLR to its wholesale customer systems.
More information on all awardees will be available on the LSLR Collaborative website.