Environmental Policy Innovation Center Awards Data Prize To 120Water For Lead Service Line Inventory
120Water, the nation’s leading solutions provider for managing drinking water programs, has been named a winner of the 2022 Water Data Prize awarded by the Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC), a nonprofit that seeks to spur innovation around lead service line replacement.
120Water was awarded for its lead service line inventory solution that enables utilities to identify and track service line material inventories and avoid expensive digs. 120Water has worked with water utilities of all sizes across the country, inventorying more than 450,000 service lines in 2021.
The Lead and Copper Rule Revision (LCRR) that went into effect recently aims to better protect communities from exposure to lead in drinking water. A key provision of the rule requires water utilities to compile a location-based inventory of service line materials, including public and private portions, and make the inventory available to the public by October 2024. As infrastructure investment funds are deployed through state revolving fund agencies, an accurate inventory will be critical in order to distribute funding to water systems with the greatest need.
120Water solves this challenge by digitizing physical records like tap cards and visually displaying a preliminary inventory of known and unknown materials for both public and private lines. 120Water’s predictive modeling tool is applied to accurately predict which unknown service lines are made of lead. 120Water’s team then analyzes those results, builds a verification plan, and makes it easy to report inventories to primacy agencies and share with the public via its Public Transparency Dashboard.
“Creating this inventory will be challenging for many utilities because most lack detailed information about the materials that make up their water service lines,” said Megan Glover, CEO of 120Water. “We are pleased that EPIC recognizes the value our service line inventory solutions bring to utilities working to comply with these new regulations.”
120Water was awarded $10,000 by EPIC, which the company plans to donate to two causes: UNICEF to protect children in Ukraine, and Water For People/Indiana Chapter, a global nonprofit that helps bring clean water and sanitation solutions to underserved communities.
More than 50 organizations and individuals from communications and technology firms, academia, community groups, and water utilities submitted entries aimed at effectively replacing lead water pipes. The entries were submitted in four categories related to lead service line inventories and mapping, replacing pipes equitably, and proactive communications on lead risks and programs.
CDM Smith and the City of Newark, NJ, were the overall winners of this year’s Water Data Prize and will be awarded $50,000 in prize money. 120Water also partnered with Newark on this project, managing the city’s post-replacement sampling program.
“120Water is proud to have been a partner with Newark and CDM Smith on their model LSL replacement program and we offer them our congratulations on their Water Data Prize recognition. It is well deserved,” said Glover.
An online awards ceremony is planned for March 29 at Noon CT and is free to attend. Registration is available here.
ABOUT 120WATER
120Water is the comprehensive solution used by water professionals across the country to manage critical lead and drinking water programs. Comprised of secure cloud-based software, services, and point-of-use kits, 120Water’s solution provides tailored workflows for complying with lead and water quality programs that protect public health. Their team of water, policy, and technology experts has supported over 7,000 sampling events across the country, partnering with water systems and government agencies such as Citizens Energy Group, the City of Providence, the City of Asheville, and Chicago Public Schools to protect public health and provide clean drinking water to all communities. To learn more, visit 120Water.com or follow them on Twitter @120_Water.