April 2016, Vol. 71 No. 4
WaterWorks
Water Sector Groups Join Forces, Launch Recognition Program
The National Association of Clear Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) – with support from the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) – announced their partnership in a new Utility of the Future (UOTF) Today Recognition Program, Thursday, April 21. The program will celebrate the development and outstanding performance of U.S. wastewater utilities while supporting the widespread adoption of the UOTF business model.
The UOTF concept revolves around basic principles which include: water reuse, watershed stewardship, beneficial reuse of biosolids, community partnering and engagement, energy efficiency, energy generation and recovery, and nutrient and materials recovery.
Since its introduction in 2013, the UOTF has been a guiding tool for utilities of all sizes toward more efficient operations, as well as a progression to full resource recovery with productivity enhancements, sustainability and resiliency. Many utilities have successfully implemented fresh and creative programs addressing local wastewater challenges, both technical and community-wide.
With the celebration of the aforementioned achievements and experiences, the UOTF Today Recognition Program will build on their success, thus encouraging the adoption of the UOTF principles as the “Organizational Culture of the Future,” and enabling participants across a broad range of capabilities to collaborate, learn and continually evolve as a unified sector.
“WateReuse member utilities are often among the first to adopt innovative strategies to develop sustainable, climate-independent strategies for water,” said Melissa Meeker, executive director for WateReuse.
Meeker added the company is excited about its involvement in this partnership aimed at recognizing the efforts of varying sizes of forward-thinking communities
Andrew Sawyers, director of the Office of Wastewater Management, U.S. EPA, said the government agency is also pleased to provide input to the group of associations on this important new program.
“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,” Sawyers said.
Public and private wastewater utilities of all sizes are encouraged to apply for this program by 5 p.m., June 17. Applicants may not have major permit violations within the year prior to the submission date. Winners of the UOTF Today Recognition Program will receive notification by July 29, with official recognition schedule during an awards ceremony at WEFTEC 2016 in New Orleans, September 2016.
For more information, visit www.wefnet.org/utilityrecognition or contact utilityrecognition@wef.org.
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