The WateReuse Association recognized the best and the brightest in the water reuse sector at the Annual Awards for Excellence luncheon on Monday, Sept. 10 during the 33rd Annual WateReuse Symposium in Austin, Texas. The WateReuse Association is the only national trade association dedicated solely to advancing laws, regulations, funding and public acceptance for water recycling.

Community Water Champion

This award recognizes utilities or local government entities that showcase exemplary water reuse projects, systems, or facilities.

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.

This project established the North Valley Regional Recycled Water Program to deliver recycled water for agriculture in California’s Central Valley.

A $9 million wastewater treatment plant expansion and 17 acres of constructed wetlands helped the City of Silverton, Oregon meet stringent regulations and create Oregon Garden, a 220-acre world-class botanical garden designed to further treat wastewater and revitalize the local tourism economy.

Excellence in Action

This 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.

The Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works (Maryland) and Raven Power entered into an agreement to supply treated effluent to the Brandon Shores Power Plant for cooling purposes, resulting in a cost savings of $13 million.

Show Low, Ariz., 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.

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

Transformational Innovation

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

  • The Arizona Pure Water Brew Challenge brought together Arizona wastewater treatment facilities, a fully operational mobile advanced water purification facility, brewers, and the issuance of Arizona’s first potable reuse permit for education and a contest for the best beer brewed with purified water.
  • The National Science Foundation and the University of Miami collaborated on an Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) project entitled “Design for Autonomous Net-Zero Water Buildings.” They project developed an onsite recycling system that was successfully used in a dormitory for 12 months.
  • The Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources (Georgia) partnered with CDM Smith and Stantec to evaluate more economical alternatives for inland potable reuse through a collaborative Water Research Foundation project, Pilot Testing of Ozone Biofiltration for Direct Potable Reuse.

Click here for a complete list of winners.