Know a water utility with robust Source Water Protection Programs? Maybe your utility has made great strides or has formed new partnerships to protect your sources waters? Please consider nominating them or your water system for member American Water Works Association (AWWA) Exemplary Source Water Protection Award.
Each year, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) recognizes the efforts of Source Water Protection Programs that have developed and are implementing exemplary source water protection programs. Yearly, through the Exemplary Source Water Protection award, AWWA issues up to three awards, with the intent to distribute to organizations representing different water system size classifications based on the population served. Organizations may self-nominate or be nominated by an AWWA member, regulatory agency responsible for source water protection, a local chapter of the National Rural Water Association, or regional authorities.
Along with nominations from all sizes of source water protection programs, the AWWA Source Water Protection Committee strongly encourages submissions from smaller water systems serving populations of 10,000 or fewer, using either ground water or surface water supply sources. Often, many of these systems may not have the courage, resources, or ability to complete the application process themselves; the Committee is hopeful that state drinking water programs, AWWA Sections, and State Rural Water Associations will be willing to assist.
Nominations are judged on how well a water system meets the six components of AWWA’s (G300) Source Water Protection Standard: 1) program vision; 2) source water characterization; 3) source water protection goals; 4) development of an Action Plan; 5) implementation of the Action Plan; and 6) periodic evaluation and revision of the entire program. In addition to how well a source water protection program satisfies each of the six program components for the AWWA Standard, nominees will also be evaluated on the following three criteria: 1) Effectiveness of the program; 2) Innovative approaches; and 3) Difficulties overcome. The application deadline is January 15, 2021 and winners will be announced at the June 13 -16, 2021 AWWA Annual Conference & Exposition.
More information about the award, including previous award recipients, eligibility and submission criteria, and the entry form, may be accessed via https://www.awwa.org/Membership- Volunteering/Awards/Exemplary-Source-Water-Protection-Award
If you have additional questions regarding the application process, or need help completing the form, please contact Randy Easley, Exemplary Source Water Protection Award Chair at: randy.easley@carkw.com, or (501) 210-4935.