WateReuse Award Winners 2026
Award Recipients
See the winners and read about their accomplishments below.
Advocacy Achievement
Danielle Francis, Water Services Association of Australia
Year after year, Danielle has demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication in advocating for transparent public communications, policy reforms, and initiatives that advance the global adoption of recycled water. Her efforts have contributed significantly to advancing the water reuse industry from her home in Sydney, Australia, with global impacts. Danielle’s work ethic and commitment to safe water reuse embody leadership, creativity, and persistence—critical principles for widespread acceptance of recycling solutions. She spearheaded development of the Global Connections Map through a unique partnership between WateReuse Association and Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA), illustrating successful implementation of purified recycled water (potable reuse) worldwide. Her tireless efforts have significantly advanced recycled water acceptance and implementation, exemplifying the spirit of the WateReuse Advocacy Achievement Award.
Deven Upadhyay, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Deven Upadhyay served as the General Manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Over the past 15 years, he has held numerous leadership roles within the organization and has demonstrated exceptional advocacy for recycled water. Deven has dedicated countless hours, both on and off the job, to advancing water reuse not only in Southern California, but across the nation and around the world.
His vision and leadership have been instrumental in the progress of Pure Water Southern California, a partnership between Metropolitan and the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts to develop a new drinking water supply by purifying and recycling cleaned wastewater. He’s initiated partnerships across the Southwest, workforce development initiatives, funding opportunities, and direct potable reuse projects.
In addition, Deven’s commitment has driven the implementation of recycled water projects through Metropolitan’s Local Resources Program, expanded the use of recycled water through the On-site Retrofit Program, and fostered critical research through the Future Supply Actions Funding Program.
A particularly noteworthy achievement is Deven’s advocacy in helping establish the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Large-Scale Water Recycling Program, which has facilitated multiple large-scale recycling efforts across the western United States. Deven also serves on the boards of the WateReuse Association and WateReuse California. At the end of 2025, Deven retired from Metropolitan, but his legacy of advocacy will continue. Deven will maintain his efforts to advance water recycling and inspire a new generation of water reuse professionals.
Anne Arundel County, Resilience Authority of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, Maryland State Delegate Andrew Pruski
Anne Arundel County, supported by the Resilience Authority of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County and Delegate Andrew Pruski, spearheaded legislation passage for a Managed Aquifer Recharge Pilot within Maryland to advance water security and resilience. This landmark legislative achievement resolves a multi-year regulatory roadblock and positions the County and the State of Maryland as pioneers in sustainable water management.
For years, the lack of a regulatory framework prevented the County from implementing Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), an essential strategy to combat declining groundwater levels and potential saltwater intrusion that threaten the region’s sole drinking water source. Anne Arundel County took bold leadership by initiating the “Our wAAter” integrated plan, of which the MAR Pilot is a critical component. They partnered strategically with the newly formed Resilience Authority of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County to frame the issue as a long-term economic and environmental security imperative.
Delegate Andrew Pruski was instrumental in securing key legislative support crucial to successfully navigating the Maryland General Assembly. The passed legislation authorizes the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to permit the state’s first MAR demonstration facility. This is a profound win for environmental policy, establishing a rigorous, science-based process for testing the use of advanced treated reclaimed water to directly replenish stressed aquifers.
By spearheading this legislative solution, the nominees have created a replicable legal pathway for other Maryland jurisdictions facing similar water resilience challenges. Their collaborative success ensures the long-term health and stability of the County’s groundwater and sets a new, proactive standard for water security statewide.
Community Water Champions
Darron Poulsen, Kody Tompkins, Latif Laari, Kalin Westover and Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority
The Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority (VVWRA) is both the administrator and the largest producer of recycled water in the High Desert region. Through innovative wastewater reclamation, energy-efficient operations, and strong community partnerships, VVWRA leads the way in protecting water resources and advancing sustainable water use for future generations.
Every year, Victor Valley serves millions of gallons of recycled water for irrigation, industrial processes, and groundwater recharge in one of the most water-scarce regions in California. Their energy efficiency partnerships with Cascade Energy and SoCalREN have reduced costs, optimized power usage, and lowered the carbon footprint of water treatment. They’ve also initiated a partnership with Victor Valley College to train the workforce of the future, launching a new Water/Wastewater Program this year.
Monterey One Water
Monterey One Water (M1W) is a publicly owned, community-driven utility providing wastewater treatment and water recycling services along California’s Central Coast. In a region isolated from state and federal water projects, M1W exemplifies the One Water approach by valuing every drop through integrated stewardship, innovation, and collaboration. The agency recycles more than 80% of its influent to support agriculture, community landscapes, and groundwater replenishment, ensuring a reliable, locally controlled water supply. Through a circular economy lens, M1W is advancing the water-energy nexus through renewable energy initiatives, including projects focused on converting organic waste and biogas into renewable natural gas, alongside solar and other clean energy efforts. These initiatives reduce emissions, strengthen community resilience, and demonstrate leadership in sustainable water management.
South Jordan City, Utah represented by Jason Rasmussen, City Manager and Ray Garrison, Public Works Director
Since 2022, South Jordan City has been operating its pioneering direct potable reuse demonstration facility, PureSoJo. As trailblazers implementing the first direct potable reuse pilot in Utah, South Jordan faced several political and logistical hurdles: the City didn’t own the source water rights, lacked a reclamation facility, and had sparse political backing. Nonetheless, South Jordan was able to surmount these obstacles to create a successful facility which has become an example of water innovation throughout the state.
This groundbreaking project, designed by Carollo Engineers, uses a non-reverse-osmosis treatment process to produce drinking water for demonstration and public outreach. The treatment includes ozone/biological filtration, ultrafiltration, granular activated carbon, and ultraviolet disinfection. The City is currently exploring options to expand its system and move from a pilot facility to full-scale implementation.
Excellence in Action
Christina Becerra Jones, LA Sanitation & Environment; Andrew Lazenby, Brown and Caldwell; Rafael Villegas, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
The Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant (Hyperion WRP) in Los Angeles and the coastal Hyperion tree in California’s Redwoods share more than just a name. The Hyperion WRP, the largest sewage plant by volume west of the Mississippi, protects millions by transforming wastewater into water suitable for discharge to the protected Santa Monica Bay, while the world’s largest Redwood tree filters air and anchors delicate ecosystems. Both are vital, unseen heroes preserving environmental balance.
At the helm of Hyperion WRP is Los Angeles Sanitation and Environment (LASAN), the City of Los Angeles’ leading agency for managing wastewater. LASAN operates four water reclamation plants supporting potable reuse, groundwater protection, and environmental restoration. As a joint project with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), LASAN completed the Hyperion Advanced Water Purification Facility (Hyperion AWPF), a 1.5 million gallons per day (mgd) proof-of-concept project aimed at recycling 100% of the City’s wastewater.
Delivered through LASAN’s first progressive design-build (PDB) approach, the Hyperion AWPF replaces potable water use for non-potable applications at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and within Hyperion WRP. It highlights advanced treatment technologies in a compact footprint, laying the groundwork for future large-scale implementation.
Upon completion of the Pure Water Los Angeles Program, Hyperion WRP is expected to produce up to 210 MGD of purified water—140 times the current capacity. The Hyperion AWPF is trailblazing the path to something bigger. The LASAN and LADWP partnership demonstrates how transformational innovations can secure a resilient water future for Los Angeles.
Ali Bayat, Palm Beach County Water Utilites Department
Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department (PBCWUD) provides water, wastewater and reclaimed services to 641,000 customers across a 1,300 square-mile region of the county. With zero water quality violations and a mission to provide the best water, best service and best environmental stewardship, the utility is recognized for maintaining more than $8 billion in assets through its second-to-none asset management program.
In 2021, the utility became the first in North America to achieve the ISO 550001 certification. Over the past 20 years, PBCWUD has led an impressive journey that has succeeded in reclaiming 85 billion gallons of water. Seizing the opportunity to educate the public on the benefits of reclaimed water, a 50-acre site was converted into Wakodahatchee Wetlands in 1997, followed by the 100-acre Green Cay Wetlands in 2002. A popular destination, Wakodahatchee in 2018 earned Money Magazine’s “Best Park in Florida” accolade. Together, the two wetlands welcome up to a million visitors each year.
In late 2026, PBCWUD will continue this legacy with Green Cay Phase II, adding an additional 63 acres of constructed lakes designed for up to 4 million gallons per day of purified water for indirect potable reuse. In addition to the park, the utility will bring a state-of-the-art reverse osmosis, advanced ultrafiltration and ultraviolet oxidation purification facility online. Known as RECAP, the Reclamation Education and Center for Advanced Purification will provide immersive educational exhibits and an animated factory show designed to inspire and educate visitors about the benefits and value of water reuse.
Outreach and Education
Orange County Sanitation District
Launched in 2022, the Citizens’ Academy is a free, four-part series designed to explain the complex world of wastewater collection, treatment, and recycling. The interactive, two-hour online sessions, plus an optional in-person tour, cover OC San’s mission, infrastructure, environmental programs, and governance. Graduates receive a certificate of completion at a public Board of Directors meeting, reinforcing civic connection and transparency. It has grown significantly—from eight graduates in its pilot year to more than 45 in the most recent cohort—with participants joining from across California and beyond. The Academy has since created ambassadors who can confidently speak on behalf of the agency. By fostering deeper public understanding, trust, and engagement, the Wastewater 101 Citizens’ Academy exemplifies innovation in outreach and education.
Valley Water
Valley Water, a water district serving Silicon Valley, is advancing its water supply goals by introducing purified water as a safe and drought-resilient source of drinking water. Building public trust and acceptance is essential—and ensuring Valley Water’s own employees are informed helps lead to public acceptance.
During 2024 and 2025, Valley Water focused on three key audiences: its employees, youth, and older adults, utilizing a variety of outreach efforts tailored to each audience. When staff understand and support purified water, they help build community trust and credibility. Informed employees can become powerful ambassadors—able to confidently explain the basics of the project, dispel misconceptions, and reinforce consistent messages through their work-related public contact, and in their own social interactions. Their knowledge and enthusiasm reflect the agency’s commitment to safe, sustainable water, amplifying outreach efforts and inspiring public acceptance of purified water as a reliable, long-term resource for Santa Clara County’s future.
This outreach effort combined a creative campaign of presentations, tailored materials, and special events that helped staff understand the importance of purified water and their role as ambassadors. Through a thoughtful curriculum, Valley Water educates and empowers students to advocate for purified water in their communities.
Suzanne Grendahl, City of Scottsdale
Scottsdale’s Water Citizen Academy isn’t just a program—it’s an experience that brings residents face-to-face with the people, science, and innovation behind their city’s world-class water system. Leading this acclaimed effort is Suzanne Grendahl, whose organization, creativity, and precision turn complex operations into an engaging, first-class learning experience.
Designed for residents eager to understand how Scottsdale delivers safe, sustainable water, the Academy provides a rare, behind-the-scenes view of treatment, distribution, and reuse. Under Suzanne’s leadership, each session blends technical insight with hands-on exploration, allowing participants to see what it takes to keep every drop flowing.
Months before the first session, Suzanne begins shaping every detail—developing briefing materials, coordinating facility tours across Scottsdale Water’s 145-acre campus, arranging catered dinners with community sponsors, and ensuring each segment reflects the utility’s commitment to transparency and excellence. Her approach allows participants to focus on what matters most: meeting the experts who protect the city’s most vital resource and witnessing innovation in action. By the end of the program, residents leave inspired, informed, and proud to be part of a community that leads the way in sustainable water management.
Thanks to Suzanne’s leadership, the Water Citizen Academy earned the 2017 WateReuse Public Education Program of the Year Award, setting a benchmark for public outreach that other cities now strive to replicate. Through her dedication, Scottsdale’s story of stewardship becomes personal—transforming citizens into advocates for a resilient, water-secure future.
Transformational Innovation
WaterHub, H2O Innovation
H2O innovation’s WaterHub is an innovative, nature-inspired, decentralized wastewater reuse solution. The WaterHub® reclaims up to 80% of wastewater onsite and returns it as high-quality non-potable water for reuse in cooling towers, toilet flushing, and boiler feeds. It integrates biological treatment, hydroponic eco-reactors, membrane filtration, and dual disinfection, all packaged in architecturally integrated facilities designed to engage and educate communities.
Since its first deployment in 2015 at Emory University (Atlanta), the WaterHub® has recycled over 350 million gallons of water. Additional full-scale systems serve industrial campuses like Reynolds American and Philip Morris USA, demonstrating both scalability and versatility.
The WaterHub® is delivered through a Water Processing Agreement (WPA), removing the capital barrier and ensuring long-term operation, compliance, and performance. This public-private delivery model allows organizations to achieve sustainability goals with minimal risk and cost.
Recognized globally as a living lab and reuse showcase, the WaterHub® is now evolving into a compact modular version to serve small communities and campuses, expanding equitable access to water reuse. H2O Innovation’s commitment to circular water management, technological integration, and public education places the WaterHub® at the forefront of decentralized reuse innovation.
FilmTec™ Fortilife™ XC160 Membrane
FilmTec™ Fortilife™ XC160UHP is a groundbreaking reverse osmosis membrane, engineered for sustainable water reuse and zero-liquid discharge in industrial settings. XC160UHP’s innovative compaction-resistant support layer and ultra-high pressure design enable it to concentrate salty wastewater streams to 16% solids—overcoming osmotic pressures that limit conventional membranes.
This technology delivers up to 57% energy savings compared to traditional thermal treatment, significantly reducing operational costs and carbon emissions for customers seeking to minimize their environmental impact. XC160UHP’s robust chemistry withstands repeated high pH cleanings, ensuring long-term reliability and lower maintenance costs.
By maximizing brine concentration before crystallization, XC160UHP improves the efficiency of zero-liquid discharge processes, helping industries comply with increasingly stringent environmental regulations. The permeate water produced is recycled for upstream reuse, further reducing freshwater demand and supporting water independence.
Applications span chemical and petrochemical processes, steel and metal production, power generation, pulp and paper, textile manufacturing, and direct lithium extraction for battery production. XC160UHP’s unique ability to operate at ultra-high pressures and its advanced material science make it a leader in sustainable technology for industrial water treatment. FilmTec™ Fortilife™ XC160UHP exemplifies innovation, sustainability, and measurable impact.
IDE Technologies
IDE Technologies, a leading global provider of water treatment solutions, has rolled out a holistic, sustainable desalination and energy center solution at Israel’s largest desalination plant: Sorek 2 – Be’er Miriam. This innovation has significantly reduced the plant’s environmental footprint while enhancing operational efficiency.
A noteworthy feature of the solution is the use of steam-driven high-pressure pumps, which are connected directly to a steam turbine, allowing for the utilization of both electricity and steam generated on-site. This direct drive concept eliminates the inefficiencies associated with traditional desalination systems and results in highly flexible, hyper-efficient operations, helping achieve up to a 10% reduction in Specific Energy (SE) consumption compared to similar facilities.
Also, this system is part of a broader holistic energy center that allows for local generation of both electricity and steam, powering the high-pressure pumps while ensuring stable and autonomous plant operations. The independent power station built into the Sorek 2 – Be’er Miriam facility allows the plant to operate without relying on fluctuating external electricity grids, further enhancing its energy resilience.
Lastly, the Sorek 2 – Be’er Miriam plant incorporates a carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) system. This system captures CO2 from the flue gases produced by the independent power station and recycles it back into the plant’s remineralization process, which reduces the carbon emissions of the facility by 30% compared to traditional desalination plants. Through this transformational innovation, IDE Technologies tackles global water challenges with the environment top-of-mind.
Up & Comer
John Sheets, PhD, PE; CDM Smith
John Sheets, PhD, PE has quickly become a recognized voice in water reuse and is leading the way in the Midwest, integrating applied research with practical delivery for utilities and industry. Drawing on a strong academic foundation and deep technical aptitude across wastewater surveillance, water reclamation, biosolids, and advanced treatment, he designs fit‑for‑purpose reuse solutions that safeguard potable supplies and support regional economic growth.
In Columbus, John serves as a technical leader in shaping conceptual designs for centralized and remote recycled‑water systems, program governance, and establishment of client pathways to implementation. He chairs WateReuse Ohio’s Potable Reuse Committee and serves on the national WateReuse Research Committee, helping translate emerging science on CEC removal into implementable, resilient reuse programs.
Carlyn Higgins, PhD, PE, Hazen and Sawyer
Carlyn Higgins is a Senior Principal Engineer with Hazen and Sawyer. Her work is focused on advanced treatment technologies, with efforts in water reuse spanning design, stakeholder engagement, regulatory navigation, and public outreach. For example, Carlyn’s past leadership in the design, construction, and operation of Plant City, FL’s One Water Demonstration System and her dedication to the ongoing design of the full-scale advanced water treatment facility have been instrumental in aligning the City’s infrastructure decisions with projected needs and regulatory conditions.
Whether it is in the office, at a conference, or a tailgate, Carlyn’s passion for water reuse is magnetic. Her work exemplifies the impact that thoughtful engineering and community engagement can have on the future of water resilience.
2026 WateReuse President’s Award
Craig Lichty, Black and Veatch
Craig Lichty served as the President of WateReuse Association from 2022 to 2023. With over 40 years of experience in the water sector in the Western U.S., Lichty is a recognized authority in water reuse and recycled water. His contributions to WateReuse and to the industry are far-reaching.
Lichty has worked in a variety of positions over his career, first for Kennedy/Jenks Consultants and then in leadership roles for Black & Veatch. He has helped deliver over 40 reuse projects, including the first potable reuse project in Northern California: Pure Water Monterey. He has also volunteered in board and advisory roles for organizations including WateReuse California, The Water Research Foundation, and the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
Lichty has helped build the WateReuse Association since the 1990’s, even before it expanded from California to become a national organization in 2000. As President of WateReuse, he helped guide the association out of the COVID-19 pandemic, presiding over the first in-person WateReuse Symposium in 2022 following two years of virtual programming. Following his presidency, he has continued to advise the WateReuse Board of Directors in the role of Past President.
Dr. Rhodes Trussell, Trussell Technologies
Dr. Rhodes Trussell is a worldwide authority on water treatment and the founder of Trussell Technologies. Dr. Trussell’s research and leadership has proven crucial to many WateReuse Association initiatives and to the scientific community’s understanding of water purification.
Dr. Trussell’s career has been characterized by application of fundamental science to improve water technology. He has advised cities throughout the United States and on every continent, working on dozens of treatment plants of all sizes. He helped accelerate the adoption of water reuse during three decades of work for MWH Construction. Since founding Trussell Technologies in 2003, Dr. Trussell has shifted his focus toward developing new sources of water for the Southwest, particularly through potable reuse.
In recent decades, Dr. Trussell has led many unified industry efforts, including the National Academy of Science’s committee on assessing water reuse, the Research Advisory Committee of the former WateReuse Research Foundation, and many more.
His professional accolades include membership in the National Academy of Engineering, the AMWA D. R. Boyd Award, the AAEE Kapp Lecture, the AEESP F. G. Pohland Medal, the AWWA A.P. Black Award, the CA-NV AWWA G. F. Fuller award, the IWA Global Water Award, the NWRI Clark Prize, the ASCE/EWRI Simon Freese Award and the CA WateReuse President’s Award.
