WateReuse Association Announces 2023 Awards

The WateReuse Association announced its slate of award winners as part of the 2023 WateReuse Symposium that was recently held in Atlanta. The awards went to candidates that are advancing water recycling knowledge and practice, exemplifying the symposium’s theme: Reimagining Water Together.

The awards granted included the WateReuse Awards for Excellence (multiple categories), the WateReuse President’s Awards and Service Awards, and Student Art Contest winners.

The WateReuse Awards for Excellence recognize 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.

The award winners are:

Advocacy Achievement

S The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Water Reuse Program

This 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

S City of Plant City (Fla.) and its utilities director, Lynn Spivey

S Mike Britt, City of Winter Haven, Fla.

S San Antonio Water System, Texas

This 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

S Eastern Municipal Water District, Calif.

S Gulf Coast Authority, Texas

This 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

S Irvine Ranch Water District and Discovery Cube, Orange County, Calif.

S Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Southwest Florida Water Management District, WateReuse Florida

This award recognizes significant success in advancing public acceptance of recycled water, including short-term campaigns, educational programs, and events.

Transformational Innovation

S City of Santa Monica, Calif.

S Norman Utilities Authority (Okla.) in partnership with Garver

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

Up and Comer

S Anya Kaufmann, P.E., senior engineer, Trussell Technologies Inc.

This award recognizes a professional with less than 10 years of experience in the recycled water industry for leadership in the industry and commitment to pursuing water recycling as a career path.

President’s Awards

S Karen Pallansch

S Cindy Wallis-Lage

This award recognizes 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

S Robert Beltran, vice president, Dewberry

S Elizabeth Dawson, engineering manager, El Dorado (Calif.) Irrigation District

S Robert McCandless, vice president, Stantec

S Joe Vesey, global business leader

The WateReuse Association recognized these individuals for their service on the board of directors. Their leadership and vision have helped drive the national adoption of water reuse policies and programs.

Champion for Reuse

The WateReuse Association is the only trade association in the United States solely dedicated to advancing laws, policy, funding, and public acceptance of recycled water. Its membership includes utilities that recycle water, businesses that support the development of recycled water projects, and consumers of recycled water.

For more information go to www.watereuse.org. S

Greetings from the FWEA Wastewater Process Committee! This month’s column will highlight the JEA Monterey Wastewater Treatment Facility, which won the 2022 Earle B. Phelps Award in the secondary treatment category for facilities with clarification followed by disinfection.