Member Spotlight

Metro Water Recovery in Denver, Colorado believes there is no such thing as “waste” water. As a headwaters state, every drop of water in the river basins is precious and impacts public health, recreation, aquatic life, agriculture, and drinking water. While Metro Water Recovery’s commitment to stewardship has had a positive impact on the region’s environment for decades, it has not achieved this goal alone.

The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) adopted a first-of-its kind regional Wastewater Master Plan (WWMP) to proactively and adaptively manage the wastewater system that serves 2.8 million people and spans 15,000 miles of pipes across 79 communities in southeast Michigan.

The LOTT Clean Water Alliance (LOTT) treats wastewater from homes and businesses in Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater, in Thurston County, Washington, serving more than 119,000 people. Since 2010, LOTT’s education and outreach efforts have been delivered primarily through its award-winning WET Science Center, with interactive exhibits and educational programming focused on the importance of wastewater treatment, the highly sophisticated processes involved, and the exceptional staff who keep things running.

Alexandria Renew Enterprises (AlexRenew), the regional public wastewater treatment provider in Alexandria, Virginia, recently began construction on its RiverRenew Tunnel Project, a state-mandated project to reduce combined sewer overflows in Alexandria. Since the start of the Project’s planning, AlexRenew has conducted significant community outreach to engage and educate Alexandria’s residents about the importance of the RiverRenew Tunnel Project.

On November 12, 2020, the City of Richmond’s floodwall was partially closed to protect low-lying areas within city limits from high waters flowing downstream in the James River, which cuts through downtown Richmond, Virginia. The City’s Collection Systems & Regulatory Affairs Division created an engaging and informative social media campaign spanning Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to educate Richmond residents about the floodwall’s closure and provide an in-depth background on its history and purpose.

The Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority (BJWSA) in South Carolina devised a creative solution to address the ongoing employment challenges it encounters in two entry-level departments, as well as encourage more community interest in clean water careers. BJWSA’s customer service and field operations departments often provide a steppingstone to internal promotions. While providing a pipeline of employees for other parts of the utility, these departments were left in a constant state of hiring new staff.

Across the nation, communities and public entities are struggling to address PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, in the environment, and the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District is no exception.

Over the past several years, the Operations Division of the City of Springfield’s Development and Public Works Department (DPW), working with the Community Development Division, developed and implemented a Capacity, Management, Operations, and Maintenance (CMOM) program. Springfield is using the CMOM program to guide its sustainable and responsible stewardship of the community’s wastewater collection system.

NACWA awarded the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission a 2022 National Environmental Achievement Award in the Public Information & Education – E-Media category for its impactful and informative video, Community Partnership for Clean Water. Read more about the creative project.

Mount Pleasant Waterworks (MPW) in South Carolina provides water and wastewater service to over 90,000 people in the Town of Mount Pleasant. NACWA awarded the Mount Pleasant Waterworks a 2022 National Environmental Achievement Award in the Operations & Environmental Performance category for its creative repurposing of a beloved, historic water infrastructure.