The U.S. Water Alliance has announced the winners of its 2016 U.S. Water Prize: DC Water, for its Walter F. Bailey Bioenergy Facility; Dow, for its Minimal Liquid Discharge technology; and Emory University, for its WaterHub campus-scale water reclamation project.
“While the challenges facing the water sector are great, our capacity of innovation and positive solutions is greater,” said Radhika Fox, U.S. Water Alliance CEO. “That’s why the US Water Alliance created the U.S. Water Prize – the first of its kind recognition program that celebrates outstanding achievement in driving towards a sustainable water future. We congratulate our 2016 U.S. Water Prize Winners – DC Water, Dow and Emory University. They are true visionaries in the one water movement.”
“Congratulations to all of our winners – this is a truly remarkable group of one water leaders,” added Jim Clark, senior vice president at Black & Veatch and chair of the U.S. Water Alliance’s recognition committee, which selects the Water Prize winners. “DC Water is utilizing novel technologies to change biosolids into energy, Dow is creating breakthrough technology to reuse water, and Emory is showing us what is possible when major anchor institutions like universities invest in water reuse. Our three 2016 winners are nothing short of incredible.”
The 2016 U.S. Water Prize will be presented to the winning organizations during a special awards ceremony at the Alliance’s One Water Summit in Atlanta on June 8. Here’s what the winners had to say:
“DC Water is honored to be recognized by the U.S. Water Alliance’s 2016 U.S. Water Prize for the Walter F. Bailey Bioenergy Facility,” said George Hawkins, general manager and CEO of DC Water. “
The project is a crowning achievement for DC Water and exemplifies a shift from treating used water as waste to leveraging it as a resource. This innovative facility is one water at work – generating renewable power, producing exceptional quality biosolids, reducing our carbon footprint, increasing plant efficiency, and ultimately saving ratepayer dollars. This is an award dedicated to extraordinary people – the members of our team who transformed innovative ideas into reality, and a Board of Directors that after years of careful oversight and review, had the courage to make an extraordinary investment in the future.”
“Winning the U.S. Water Prize is a true honor,” said Snehal Desai, global business director of Dow Water & Process Solutions. “Dow has a company-wide commitment to the circular economy model – one that emphasizes the need to reduce, reuse, and reclaim our limited water resources. Dow, together with our partners and collaborators, are proud to be recognized by the U.S. Water Alliance for bringing our collaborative spirit, innovations, and practical technologies to help address the global water challenge.”
“We are gratified for this recognition from the U.S. Water Alliance for the WaterHub at Em
ory,” said Matthew Early, vice president for Emory University Campus Services. “Through this project, we’ve shown how universities can play an important role in advancing sustainability nationwide. Not only has the WaterHub had tremendous impact on how we think about water and how it is utilized on campus, it has also become a national model for those seeking innovative technology to address the global need for water conservation and sustainable solutions.”
The U.S. Water Alliance wishes to thank its Independent Review Panel their time, expertise and guidance through the process: Paul Bowen, Director of Sustainable Operations, The Coca-Cola Company; Robert Glennon, Regents’ Professor and Morris K. Udall Professor of Law & Public Policy, University of Arizona; Bill Reilly, Senior Advisor to TPG Capital and former Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency; and, Dave White, President of Ecosystem Services Exchange and former Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service at USDA-NRCS.
Read more about the award-winning projects.
The 2016 One Water Summit will be held June 8-10 in Atlanta, Ga. Register today and help celebrate these award-winning “one water” achievements. Early-bird registration has been extended until April 15. For information and to register, visit www.uswateralliance.org.
