WEF Announces First Winners Of MS4 Stormwater And Green Infrastructure Awards

Inaugural awards program, winners featured at WEFTEC 2015 in Chicago

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) has announced the first winners of a new national municipal stormwater and green infrastructure awards program. Developed through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. 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 today in Chicago 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, Wash.
Phase II – City of Alexandria, Va.

Program Management
Phase I – Montgomery County DEP, Md.
Phase II – Lafayette Consolidated Govt, Lafayette, La.

Announced in July, the program recognizes Phase II—includes small MS4s in urbanized areas, as well as small MS4s outside the urbanized areas that are designated by the local permitting authority and Phase I—includes medium and large cities or certain counties with populations of 100,000 or more to obtain NPDES permit coverage for their stormwater discharges.

Applications were reviewed and winners 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, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Landscape Architects, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, the National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies, and the Water Environment Research Foundation.

For more information, visit www.wef.org/ms4awards.

About WEF
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. Since 1928, WEF and its members have protected public health and the environment. As a global water sector leader, our mission is to connect water professionals; enrich the expertise of water professionals; increase the awareness of the impact and value of water; and provide a platform for water sector innovation. For more information, visit www.wef.org.

About WEFTEC
WEFTEC 2015, the Water Environment Federation’s 88th annual technical exhibition and conference, will be held Sept. 26-30, 2015 at McCormick Place in Chicago. The world’s largest annual water quality event provides the latest developments, technologies, and services for water preservation, restoration, and sustainability. For more information, visit www.weftec.org.