AWRA honors Oregon Water Resources Department, ONE DROP with awards

Oct. 26, 2015
The American Water Resources Association named the Integrated Water Resources Strategy of Oregon Water Resources Department as its Integrated Water Resources Management Award winner. It also chose ONE DROP's Project Burkina Faso as its Special Recognition Award winner.

MIDDLEBURG, VA, Oct. 26, 2015 -- The American Water Resources Association (AWRA) recently announced that it has named the Integrated Water Resources Strategy of the Oregon Water Resources Department as the 2015 winner of its prestigious Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Award. AWRA also revealed that it has chosen ONE DROP's Project Burkina Faso as its first ever IWRM Special Recognition Award winner.

"Oregon is honored to receive the 2015 IWRM Award and greatly appreciates the Association's commitment to and recognition of Integrated Water Resources Management," said Tom Byler, director of the Oregon Water Resources Department. "The state's first water strategy was developed collaboratively, resulting in a long-term blueprint for meeting Oregon's water quantity, water quality and ecosystem needs. The Water Resources Department and its partners are gearing up for the 2017 Update to Oregon's Integrated Water Resources Strategy."

Oregon's Integrated Water Resources Strategy was adopted by the state's Water Resources Commission in August 2012. The Strategy provides a roadmap for meeting in-stream and out-of-stream water needs. The 2013 Oregon Legislature strongly supported implementation of the state's first water strategy, providing more than $30 million in funding across agencies, leading to greater collaboration between Oregon's natural resources agencies. The 2015 Oregon Legislature continued its support, investing an additional $54 million for water infrastructure projects.

"We at ONE DROP are both proud and humbled to accept this award," said Catherine B. Bachand, CEO, One Drop. "It is extremely encouraging to know that our unique approach to sustainable water access -- which was on full display in Burkina Faso -- has been recognized at the highest level by a leading technical organization in the field. If we are to solve the water crisis permanently, making universal and sustainable access to water and sanitation services a reality, it will require from all stakeholders at every level to factor-in behavioral insight into infrastructure-related policies and programs."

ONE DROP started Project Burkina Faso in 2012 in the region of Cascades and Hauts-Bassins. Developed using a systematic approach called The ABCs for Sustainability, the project uses three complementary components: access to safe drinking water and sanitation ("A"), behavior change using social art ("B"), and access to capital/entrepreneurship ("C"). Deployed over five years, this project will improve the living conditions of 100, 000 people. Both awards will be presented during the Annual Awards Luncheon at the Association's Annual Water Resources Conference on Wednesday, Nov. 18, at the Grand Hyatt Denver in Denver, Colo.

See also:

"AWRA announces recipients of Richard A. Herbert Memorial Scholarship Fund awards"

"AWRA recommends national move to integrated water resources management"


About AWRA


Since 1964, American Water Resources Association has been dedicated to the advancement of water resources management, research and education, as well as a balanced approach toward solving water resources challenges. AWRA’s membership is comprised of professionals who share a common interest in working and learning across a wide range of disciplines focused on water resources policy, practice and education. For more information, Visit AWRA.

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