ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The forward-thinking initiatives of 39 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 program celebrates the achievements of water utilities that transform from a 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).
The Utility of the Future concept is being promoted as water systems around the world are transforming operations through innovation and technology. The 39 utilities recognized this year are recovering resources from wastewater, leading community engagement, forming unique partnerships, and building an internal culture of innovation.
"The transformational approach to utility management each of the Utility of Future Today honorees have shown benefits communities and water in several significant ways," said WEF President Lynn Broaddus. "We are delighted to celebrate the impact of these utilities and proud to recognize their leadership in water sector innovation."
These utilities are being recognized for the first time:
- Village of Wellington Water Reclamation Facility - Boca Raton, Fla.
- City of Vancouver, Marine Park and Westside Wastewater Treatment Facilities - Vancouver, Wash.
- Derry Township Municipal Authority - Hershey, Pa.
- Dodge City South Reclamation Facility - Dodge City, Kan.
- Saco Water Resource Recovery Department - Saco, Maine
- York Sewer District - York, Maine
- Town and Country Utilities - Babcock Ranch, Fla.
- Lincoln Wastewater System - Lincoln, Neb.
- Colorado Springs Utilities - Colorado Springs, Colo.
- Town of Cary Utilities – Cary, N.C.
- Carlsbad Municipal Water District – Carlsbad, Calif.
These utilities are being recognized for a second year but for a new area of performance:
- Upper Occoquan Service Authority – Centreville, Va.
- Scottsdale Water – Scottsdale, Ariz.
- New York City Department of Environmental Protection – Flushing, N.Y.
- Monterey One Water – Monterey, Calif.
- Chesterfield County Department of Utilities – Chesterfield, Va.
- Hanover Sewerage Authority – Whippany, N.J.
- Brunswick Regional Water and Sewer H2GO – Leland, N.C.
- Lafayette Renew – Lafayette, Ind.
- City of Cape Coral – Cape Coral, Fla.
- Loudoun Water – Ashburn, Va.
- Napa Sanitation District – Napa, Calif.
- Metro Wastewater Reclamation District – Denver, Colo.
- City of Pompano Beach Utilities – Pompano Beach, Fla.
- Oakland County Water Resources – Waterford, Mich.
- Eastern Municipal Water District – Perris, Calif.
- Holland Area Water Reclamation Facility – Holland, Mich.
- McAllen Public Utility – McAllen, Texas
- Central Arkansas Water – Little Rock, Ark.
- South Platte Renew – Englewood, Colo.
These utilities are being recognized for a third year and in a new area of performance:
- Columbus Water Works – Columbus, Ga.
- Fort Wayne City Utilities – Fort Wayne, Ind.
- Broward County Water and Wastewater Operations - North Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant – Pompano Beach, Fla.
These utilities are being recognized for a fourth year and in a new area of performance:
- Great Lakes Water Authority – Detroit, Mich.
- Delta Diablo – Antioch, Calif.
- Toho Water Authority – Kissimee, Fla.
- Houston Public Works – Houston, Texas
These utilities are being recognized for a fifth year and in a new area of performance:
- Clean Water Services – Hillsboro, Ore.
Honorees will be recognized during a ceremony at WEFTEC 2021 in Chicago on October 19.
To learn more, visit https://www.wef.org/utility-of-the-future or contact UtilityRecognition@wef.org.