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Water Utilities Commended for Transformational Activities

Date: July 30, 2019

The forward-thinking initiatives of 43 water utilities are being recognized as they reimagine partnering and engagement, watershed stewardship, and recovery of resources such as water, energy, and nutrients.

The Utility of the Future Today recognition celebrates the achievements of water utilities that transform from the traditional wastewater treatment system to a resource recovery center and leader in the overall sustainability and resilience of the communities they serve.

Utility of the Future Today was launched in 2016 by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), The Water Research Foundation (WRF) and the WateReuse Association, with input from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A total of 118 utilities have been recognized since the program started.

The Utility of the Future concept is being promoted as water systems around the world are transforming operations through innovation and technology. The 43 utilities recognized this year are recovering resources from wastewater, engaging in their community, forming unique partnerships, and building an internal culture of innovation.

These utilities are being recognized for the first time:

  • Broward County Water and Wastewater Operations – North Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (Pompano Beach, Fla.)
  • Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (Martinez, Calif.)
  • City of Dallas Water Utilities (Dallas, Texas) 
  • City of El Dorado Wetlands and Water Reclamation Facility (El Dorado, Kan.)
  • City of Pompano Beach Utilities Department (Pompano Beach, Fla.)
  • City of Rio Rancho Utilities (Rio Rancho, N.M.)
  • City of Wichita Falls (Wichita Falls, Texas)
  • Flagstaff Water Services (Flagstaff, Ariz.)
  • Genesee County District # 3 Linden Water Resource Recovery Facility (Linden, Mich.)
  • Greensboro Water Resources Department, Greensboro, NC 
  • Orange County Water District (Fountain Valley, Calif.)
  • Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
  • Watercare Services Limited, Auckland, New Zealand

These utilities are being recognized for a second year but for a new area of performance:

  • Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (Albuquerque, N.M.)
  • Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority (Camden, N.J.) 
  • City of San Diego Public Utilities Department (San Diego, Calif.)
  • City of Tallahassee Underground Utilities (Tallahassee, Fla.) 
  • Delta Diablo, (Antioch, Calif.)
  • Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District (Fairfield, Calif.)
  • Fort Wayne City Utilities (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
  • Great Lakes Water Authority (Detroit, Mich.)
  • Houston Water (Houston, Texas) 
  • Knoxville Utilities Board (Knoxville, Tenn.)
  • LOTT Clean Water Alliance (Olympia, Wash.)
  • NEW Water, the brand of the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District (Green Bay, Wisc.)
  • Orange County Sanitation District (Fountain Valley, Calif.)
  • Queensland Urban Utilities, Brisbane, QLD
  • Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (Sacramento, Calif.)
  • Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (Los Angeles, Calif.)
  • Spokane County Environmental Services Department (Spokane, Wash.)
  • Toho Water Authority (Kissimmee, Fla.)
  • Trinity River Authority of Texas (Arlington, Texas) 
  • Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (Laurel, Md.)
  • Western Virginia Water Authority (Roanoke, Va.)

These utilities are being recognized for a third year and in a new area of performance:

  • Charlotte Water (Charlotte, N.C.)
  • City of Grand Rapids (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
  • City of St. Cloud Public Utilities (St. Cloud, Minn.)
  • Clean Water Services (Hillsboro, Ore.)
  • Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources (Lawrenceville, Ga.)
  • King County Wastewater Treatment Division (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Tucson Water (Tucson, Ariz.)

These utilities are being recognized for a fourth year and in a new area of performance:

  • City of Fayetteville Water Resource Recovery Facilities (Fayetteville, Ark.)
  • DC Water (Washington, D.C.)

Honorees will be recognized during an awards ceremony at WEFTEC 2019 – WEF’s 92nd annual technical exhibition and conference – this September in Chicago.

To learn more, visit https://watereuse.org/news-events/awards/utility-of-the-future/

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