WEF Announces Third Year of MS4 Award Winners at WEFTEC 2017

Thirteen high-performing municipalities received recognition in the third annual National MS4 Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards on Oct. 2, 2017. These awards celebrate administrators of municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) that perform beyond regulatory requirements.

Developed and introduced in 2015 by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the 2017 distinctions were awarded to the winners during the annual Stormwater Congress Luncheon at WEFTEC 2017 in Chicago.

The awards recognize performance in the categories of innovation and program management as well combined high scores in both categories. Applications for the National MS4 Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards are reviewed by a broad subcommittee of water sector experts.

The awards also are separated into two classifications based on the population of the communities they serve. The classifications are:

• Phase I, which encompassed medium or large cities with more than 100,000 customers and
• Phase II, which encompasses smaller storm sewer systems outside of heavily populated urban areas.

The winners of the 3rd annual National MS4 Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards are as follows:

Overall Highest Scores

• Phase I – City of Austin, Texas, Watershed Protection Department
• Phase II – Capitol Region Watershed District, St. Paul, Minn.

Innovation

• Phase I – Boston Water and Sewer Commission
• Phase II – Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Program Management

• Phase I – City of Alpharetta, Ga.
• Phase II – City of Alexandria, Va.

The 2017 recipients were awarded silver or gold certificates based on their level of performance in innovation or program management.

Gold recognition in Innovation

Silver recognition in Innovation

Gold recognition in Program Management

Silver recognition in Program Management

WEF announces second year of MS4 award winners at WEFTEC 2016

Six high-performing municipalities left the 89th annual Water Environment Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC® 2016) in New Orleans as recipients of this year’s National MS4 Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards.

The distinction, introduced last year to celebrate administrators of MS4s that perform beyond regulatory requirements, was awarded to the winners during WEFTEC’s annual Stormwater Congress on Sept. 27.

Separated based on the population of the communities they serve, participating municipalities were classified as either Phase I or Phase II.

While all entrants received gold, silver, or bronze certificates based on their level of performance in the categories of innovation and program management, three stand-out winners from each classification were chosen in each category. Two additional winners were recognized for achieving combined high scores in both assessments.

The winners of the 2nd annual National MS4 Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards are as follows:

Overall Highest Scores
Phase I –  Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program, Calif.
Phase II –  Capitol Region Watershed District, Minn.

Innovation
Phase I –  Jefferson Parish Environmental Affairs, La.
Phase II –  City of Auburn, Ala.

Program Management
Phase I –  City of Austin, Texas Watershed Protection Department
Phase II –  Kitsap County Public Works, Wash.

Developed by WEF in cooperation with the U.S. EPA, applications for the National MS4 Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards were reviewed by a broad steering committee of water sector experts, including representatives from WEF.

2015 Awards Program Information

The National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards program, led by WEF through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. EPA, was established to recognize high-performing regulated MS4 programs. The objective of the program is to recognize high-performing, regulated Phase I and Phase II MS4 communities that meet and exceed regulatory requirements in innovative ways that are effective and cost efficient.

In response to the 2015 call for applications, WEF received eight Phase I and 22 Phase II applications in the first year of this awards program. Three winners from both Phase I and Phase II communities were selected in the categories of program management, innovation, and overall highest score.

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.

The award winners were formally announced and celebrated at the 2015 WEFTEC Stormwater Congress Luncheon on Monday, September 28 in Chicago.

Based on steering committee review scores, each application was categorized as a Bronze, Silver, or Gold level community within both Program Management and Innovation categories. All participants will receive certificates highlighting their level of achievement. Awards and certificates will be mailed to the winners following WEFTEC 2015.

All applicant designations are listed below:

Phase I Communities and MS4s

Phase II Communities and MS4s