CHICAGO, IL, Sept. 29, 2015 -- The Water Environment Federation (WEF) has officially announced the first winners of a new national municipal stormwater and green infrastructure awards program. Developed through a cooperative agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the program recognizes high-performing regulated Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) and inspires them to exceed requirements through innovative and cost-effective approaches.
'Housed within the new WEF Stormwater Institute, the awards were developed to inspire MS4 program leaders toward innovation that is both technically effective and financially efficient," said WEF Executive Director Eileen O'Neill. "The success of this first year shows great promise for the program as a means to continually support, encourage and recognize this important and growing segment of the water sector."
The winners were recognized on Monday, Sept. 29, in Chicago, Ill., during the Stormwater Congress at WEFTEC 2015, WEF's 88th annual technical exhibition and conference. All participants received a certificate in gold, silver or bronze levels with three winners from each category selected for program management, innovation and overall winner with the highest score.
Overall Highest Scores
- Phase I: Charlotte Stormwater Services, Charlotte, NC
- Phase II: City of Fairbanks, AK
Innovation
- Phase I: City of Santa Monica, Calif. and City of Tacoma, WA
- Phase II: City of Alexandria, VA
Program Management
- Phase I: Montgomery County DEP, MD
- Phase II: Lafayette Consolidated Govt, Lafayette, LA
Announced in July (see related article), the program recognizes Phase I, which includes medium and large cities or certain counties with populations of 100,000 or more to obtain NPDES permit coverage for their stormwater discharges; and Phase II, which includes small MS4s in urbanized areas, as well as small MS4s outside the urbanized areas that are designated by the local permitting authority.
Applications were reviewed and winners were selected by a diverse steering committee that included members and volunteers from WEF's stormwater and watershed national committees, as well as representatives from each of the following organizations: the Association of Clean Water Administrators, American Rivers, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society of Landscape Architects, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies, and Water Environment Research Foundation.
See also:
"WEF announces establishment of new Stormwater Institute"
"WERF, WEF launch new LIFT projects to drive innovation in water quality sector"
About WEF
Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of 36,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. WEF members, Member Associations and staff proudly work to achieve our mission to provide bold leadership, champion innovation, connect water professionals, and leverage knowledge to support clean and safe water worldwide. For more information, visit www.wef.org.
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