A partnership of water sector organizations—the National Assn. of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF) and the WateReuse Assn.—with input from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the recipients of the inaugural Utility of the Future (UOTF) Today Recognition program. The program celebrates the progress and exceptional performance of wastewater utilities while supporting the adoption of the UOTF business model.
A peer committee of utility leaders selected 61 public and private utilities from across the U.S., Canada and Denmark. The recipients will be recognized and honored during a Sept. 27 ceremony held in conjunction with the 2016 Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) in New Orleans. The recipients will receive a display flag and a special certificate to identify and promote their outstanding achievement as a UOTF organization.
The UOTF concept was first introduced in 2013 to guide utilities of all sizes toward smarter, more efficient operations and a progression to full resource recovery with enhanced productivity, sustainability and resiliency. Since then, many utilities have successfully implemented new programs to address local environmental and community priorities.
The committee selected utilities for recognition based on the adoption of UOTF principles (i.e. water reuse, watershed stewardship, beneficial biosolids reuse, community partnering and engagement, energy efficiency, energy generation and recovery, and nutrient and materials recovery).
"Many utilities optimize their operations, consistently meet or exceed their regulatory requirements, and engage their employees and communities in meaningful and productive ways," said WEF Executive Director Eileen O’Neill. "We are excited about this new opportunity to recognize the achievements of small, medium, and large forward-thinking utilities that are providing sustainable, efficient and value-added service to their communities."
"EPA has been pleased to provide input to the partnering associations on this important new program," said Andrew Sawyers, director of EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management. “We believe it will play an important role in EPA’s efforts to advance effective and sustainable practices that will help utilities across the sector on their journey to becoming the Utility of the Future."
"NACWA applauds all the recipients of the inaugural Utility of the Future Recognition program," said NACWA CEO Adam Krantz. "Utility leaders are engaged in unparalleled innovation, and this recognition will inspire the sector as a whole to achieve still untapped economic and environmental benefits for their communities and the nation."
To learn more about the UOTF Today Recognition program, visit www.wefnet.org/utilityrecognition or contact [email protected].
Source: Water Environment Foundation