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Awards for Excellence Honor Achievements in Reuse

Date: September 10, 2018

The WateReuse Association presented the Annual Awards for Excellence on Monday, September 10 during the 33rd Annual WateReuse Symposium in Austin, Texas. The program recognizes individuals and projects that have made significant contributions in support of greater adoption of water reuse. Recipients are successfully advancing the development of alternative water supplies or developing a novel approach to meet water needs through the use of water reuse systems or approaches.

Community Water Champion Award

The Community Water Champion award recognizes utilities or local government entities that showcase exemplary water reuse projects, systems, or facilities that demonstrate the value of water reuse to the community served by them.

City of Los Angeles, LA Sanitation – The City of Los Angeles developed the One Water LA 2040 Plan, a holistic and multi-agency approach that considers all water resources as “One Water” – including surface water, groundwater, potable water, wastewater, recycled water, dry-weather runoff, and stormwater.

City of Modesto, City of Turlock, Del Puerto Water District, California – The cities of Modesto and Turlock in collaboration with Del Puerto Water District established the North Valley Regional Recycled Water Program to deliver recycled water for agriculture in California’s Central Valley.

Oregon Gardens, City of Silverton, Oregon – A $9 million wastewater treatment plant expansion and 17 acres of constructed wetlands helped Silverton, OR meet stringent regulations and create Oregon Gardens, a 220-acre world-class botanical garden. Oregon Gardens is an excellent example of how constructed wetlands designed to treat wastewater can provide the foundation for unique community amenities and lead to the revitalization of a local tourism economy.

 

Excellence in Action

The Excellence in Action award recognizes users of recycled water, including utility customers, commercial enterprises, government agencies, NGOs, or partnerships between utilities and their customers, to showcase how recycled water is used for commercial operations, watershed restoration projects, irrigation or other projects.

Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works, Maryland – The Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works and Raven Power entered into an agreement to supply treated effluent to the Brandon Shores Power Plant for cooling purposes. The water reuse agreement was pivotal in meeting the needs of the power plant as groundwater was not available and resulted in a cost savings of $13 million.

City of Show Low, Arizona – The City of Show Low, Arizona, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, created the Show Low Wetlands, a 250-acre constructed wetland that uses recycled water to establish a habitat for fish, waterfowl and other wildlife in the area.

Hyatt House Irvine, Irvine Ranch Water District, California – Irvine Ranch Water District teamed up with Hyatt House Irvine to plan for and construct dual-plumbed hotel facility that includes all toilets and urinals – including in 149 guest rooms, lobby area, pool area and employee facilities.

 

Transformational Innovation

The Transformational Innovation award recognizes technological advances, research breakthroughs, and/or innovative practices that advance the adoption, implementation and/or public acceptance of recycled water.

Arizona Pure Water Brew Challenge – AZ Pure Brew Team – The Arizona Pure Water Brew Challenge included a fully operational mobile advanced water purification facility, comprehensive water quality testing, and issuance of Arizona’s first potable reuse permit – rescinding a multi‐decade statewide prohibition against potable reuse.

Net-Zero Water Buildings, National Science Foundation/University of Miami, Florida – The National Science Foundation and the University of Miami collaborated on this Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) project entitled “Design for Autonomous Net-Zero Water Buildings.” After 12 months of operation at a dormitory, the recycled water exceeded all potable and non-potable water standards.

Pilot Testing of Ozone Biofiltration for Direct Potable Reuse, Gwinnett County, Georgia –  Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources partnered with CDM Smith and Stantec to evaluate more economical alternatives to potable reuse through a collaborative Water Research Foundation project.

 

Advocacy Achievement

The Advocacy Achievement award recognizes individuals and organizations for significant achievements in advancing policy reforms that facilitate greater adoption, implementation or acceptance of recycled water, and/or has provided exemplary service to the water reuse sector.

Michael Graves, Vice President, Garver, Oklahoma – Michael Graves has been successful in both setting the pace for legislative and regulatory guidance as well as demonstrating leadership, creativity and persistence in supporting water reuse across Oklahoma.

Rick Warner, Senior Engineer, Washoe County, Nevada –  Rick Warner has been at the forefront of potable water reuse advocacy within the U.S. and around the world in his roles as past president of the Water Environment Federation and as senior engineer for Washoe County, Nevada.

WateReuse Colorado and the PureWater Colorado Direct Potable Reuse Demonstration Project – The PureWater Colorado Direct Potable Reuse project included the development of a Colorado DPR regulatory framework and a DPR demonstration project.

 

Outreach and Education

The Outreach and Education award recognizes significant success in advancing public acceptance of recycled water. Short-term campaigns, educational programs, and events are eligible.

Pure Water Soquel Mobile Educational Trailer, Soquel Creek Water District, California – On a shoestring budget and with only eight weeks to debut at an open house event, the Soquel Creek Water District’s outreach team created the Pure Water Soquel Mobile Educational Trailer, put it on the road, and get it in front of audiences.

 

Up and Comer

The Up and Comer award recognizes a water reuse professional with less than 10 years in the recycled water sector for his/her leadership and commitment to pursuing water recycling as a career path.

Pranjali S. Kumar, Environmental Engineer, Carollo Engineers – Only four years into her professional career, Pranjali Kumar of Carollo Engineers has been a key staff member of three industry leading potable reuse pilot projects: Altamonte Springs, Florida pureALTA direct potable reuse demonstration pilot project; San Diego Pure Water potable reuse pilot project; and the ongoing Toho Water Authority (Florida) indirect potable reuse pilot project.

WateReuse President’s Award

This award recognizes significant contributions to the advancement of water reuse through exceptional service and leadership. It is given at the discretion of the WateReuse Association president.

City of Wichita Falls, Texas – The City of Wichita Falls implemented the first high profile direct potable reuse project in the United States in 2014 and successfully engaged the city’s medical community to address public concerns.

Tom Taggart, Executive Director, Public Services, City of San Marcos, Texas – Thomas P. Taggart is immediate past President of WateReuse Texas and Executive Director of Public Services for the City of San Marcos where he leads and directs the city’s water, electric, and transportation services divisions. A vocal advocate for water reuse in Texas, Mr. Taggart represented the WateReuse Texas on the national board of the WateReuse Association and was instrumental in growing membership for the association while in office.

Lifetime Achievement

Margie Nellor – Margaret Nellor has had a tremendous impact on advancing water reuse, including service as President of the WateReuse Association. She is nationally recognized as an expert on clean water issues dealing with the development and implementation of water quality standards, total maximum daily loads, and pretreatment regulations.

WateReuse Texas Ed Archuleta Reuse Award

WateReuse Texas established the Ed Archuleta award in 2013 in honor of Edmund G. “Ed” Archuleta for his years of expertise in managing water resources.

Ellen McDonald, PhD, PE, Alan Plummer Associates, Inc. – Ellen McDonald, PhD, PE is an extraordinary water reuse science expert and vocal advocate for common sense approaches to water supply management. For nearly 30 years, McDonald has used her analytical skills as a water resource engineer to provide communities with safe, reliable supplies.

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