TAMPA, Fla. – The WateReuse Association (WateReuse) announced its annual Awards for Excellence winners today. The winners include individuals, initiatives and facilities driving increased knowledge, awareness, and adoption of water reuse practices and technologies, exemplifying the 2025 conference theme: Turning the Tide toward Water Reuse.
The awards include the WateReuse Awards for Excellence (multiple categories), President’s Awards and Service Awards.
WateReuse Awards for Excellence
The WateReuse Awards for Excellence recognize the people, projects and partnerships that demonstrate exceptional leadership toward building more resilient communities through water reuse. Award recipients use water recycling in novel ways to solve water management challenges, advance policies that facilitate greater adoption of water recycling and inspire others through their innovation and leadership.
To read more information and view videos about the award winners, visit this page.
The award winners are:
Advocacy Achievement
- Anselmo Collins, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
- Shannon Spurlock, Pacific Institute
- Sharon Green, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts
The Advocacy Achievement award recognizes individuals and organizations for significant achievements in advancing policy, legislation or regulations that facilitate greater adoption, implementation or acceptance of recycled water.
Community Water Champion
- Upper Occoquan Service Authority (UOSA)
- Sterling Natural Resource Center (East Valley Water District, Balfour Beatty, Arcadis, Ruhnau Clarke Architects, Anaergia, AKD Consulting)
The Community Water Champion award recognizes the accomplishments of utilities and local government entities that ensure a safe, reliable, locally controlled water supply through the development of water recycling treatment facilities, infrastructure and/or other water reuse projects.
Excellence in Action
- The French Valley Recycled Water Expansion Project (Eastern Municipal Water District, Temecula Valley Unified School District, The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District)
- Pure SoJo DPR Demonstration Facility (Ray Garrison, City of South Jordan)
The Excellence in Action award recognizes community leaders that demonstrate a commitment to water resiliency through the innovative use of recycled water for commercial operations, watershed restoration projects, irrigation, or other projects.
Outreach and Education
- Be Water Positive Sailing Campaign
- Arizona Water Innovation Initiative at Arizona State University (ASU)
- Orange County Sanitation District
The Outreach and Education award recognizes significant success in advancing public acceptance of recycled water, including short-term campaigns, educational programs, and events.
Up and Comer
- Karthik Kumarasamy, CDM Smith
The Up and Comer award recognizes an emerging professional making an impact in the recycled water industry.
President’s Awards
- Brian K. Biesemeyer, Former Executive Director of Scottsdale Water
- John Enloe, Truckee Meadows Water Authority
- John Shearer, Florida Water Reuse Leader
- Wilton Simpson, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture
- Lynn Spivey, Director of Utilities - City of Plant City, FL
The President’s Awards recognize individuals who have significantly contributed to the advancement of water reuse through exceptional service and leadership. This award is given at the discretion of the WateReuse Association President.
Service Awards
- Kati Bell, Hazen and Sawyer
- Tricia Kilgore, Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority
- Thomas Maher, Southern Nevada Water Authority
- Natalie Monro, Jacobs
- David Sloan, Freese and Nichols
- Mike Sweeney, Toho Water Authority
The WateReuse Association recognized these individuals for their service on our Board of Directors. Their leadership and vision have helped drive the national adoption of water reuse policies and programs.
