Sixteen U.S. communities were recognized for excellence in municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) program management and innovation as part of the 2021 National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards program. The initiative, developed and introduced in 2015 by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is also known as the MS4 Awards program.
In addition to the winners, each applicant was categorized into levels signifying their status among other MS4 communities across the country. Each MS4 will receive a certificate indicating a designation of Gold, Silver or Bronze level status in both program management and innovation. Gold Recognition in Program Management Silver Recognition in Program Management Bronze Recognition in Program Management Gold Recognition in Innovation Silver Recognition in Innovation Bronze Recognition in Innovation About the Award The National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards program was established to recognize high-performing regulated MS4s. Award winners meet and exceed regulatory requirements in innovative ways that are effective and cost-efficient. Submissions undergo an expert committee review and selection process. High-performers in program management and innovation will be recognized in October 2021. The Phase I and Phase II communities with the overall highest score will be honored as the formal winners of the 2021 National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards at WEFTEC 2021. For more information, please review our FAQ document or contact Bianca Pinto at BPinto@wef.org Eighteen high-performing municipalities received recognition in the sixth annual National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards. These awards celebrate administrators of MS4s that perform beyond regulatory requirements. The awards recognize performance in the categories of innovation and program management as well as combined high scores in both categories. Submissions for the National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards undergo an expert committee review and selection process. Phase I Winners Phase II Winners Read more about the 2020 Award Winners in the Stormwater Report and view the videos below from the Phase I and Phase II Overall Winners. In addition to the winners, the other applicants were categorized into levels signifying their status among other MS4 communities across the country. Each MS4 will receive a certificate indicating either Gold, Silver or Bronze level status in both program management and innovation. Gold recognition in Program Management Silver recognition in Program Management Gold recognition in Innovation Silver recognition in Innovation Twenty-two high-performing municipalities and one university received recognition in the fifth annual National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards on Sept. 23. These awards celebrate administrators of MS4s that perform beyond regulatory requirements. The 2019 distinctions were awarded to the winners during the annual Stormwater Congress Luncheon at WEFTEC 2019 in Chicago, Ill. The awards recognize performance in the categories of innovation and program management as well combined high scores in both categories. Applications for the National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards are reviewed by a broad work team of water sector experts. Phase I Winners Phase II Winners In addition to the winners, the other applicants were categorized into levels signifying their status among other MS4 communities across the country. Each MS4 received a certificate indicating either Gold, Silver or Bronze level status in both program management and innovation. Gold recognition in Innovation Phase I Silver recognition in Innovation Bronze recognition in Innovation Gold recognition in Program Management Silver recognition in Program Management Phase I 22 agencies received recognition by the fourth annual WEF National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards Program on Oct. 1, 2018. The winners received their awards at the Stormwater Congress Luncheon held at WEFTEC® 2018 in New Orleans. Housed within the WEF Stormwater Institute, this awards program was developed to encourage innovation among MS4 programs nationwide. The MS4 awards are intended to inspire leaders to seek new and innovative ways to meet and exceed regulatory requirements in ways that are technically effective and financially efficient. The three award categories are Program Management, Innovation, and Overall Highest Score, which indicates the best performing programs. Each category has winners in both Phase I and Phase II communities. The 2018 National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Award winners are: Phase I Winners Phase II Winners In addition to the winners, the other applicants were categorized into levels signifying their status among other MS4 communities nationwide. Each MS4 received a certificate indicating Silver or Gold level status in both program management and innovation. Gold in Innovation Phase I Silver in Innovation Phase I Phase II Gold in Program Management Phase I Phase II Silver in Program Management Phase I Phase II Thirteen high-performing municipalities received recognition in the third annual National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards on Oct. 2, 2017. These awards celebrate administrators of MS4s that perform beyond regulatory requirements. 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. The winners of the 3rd annual National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards are: Overall Highest Scores Innovation Program Management 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 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 Municipal 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. 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 Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards are: Overall Highest Scores Innovation Program Management Applications for the National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards were reviewed by a broad steering committee of water sector experts, including representatives from WEF. 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. Phase I – Charlotte Stormwater Services, Charlotte, N.C. Phase II – City of Fairbanks, Alaska 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 Department of Environmental Protection, Md. Phase II – Lafayette Consolidated Government, Lafayette, La. 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
2020 Awards Program Information
2020 National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Award Winners Announced
2019 Awards Program Information
WEF Announces Fifth Year of MS4 Award Winners at WEFTEC 2019
Phase I
2018 Awards Program Information
WEF Stormwater Institute announces 2018 MS4 Award winners
2017 Awards Program Information
WEF Announces Third Year of MS4 Award Winners at WEFTEC 2017
2016 Awards Program Information
WEF announces second year of MS4 award winners at WEFTEC 2016
Phase I – Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program, Calif.
Phase II – Capitol Region Watershed District, Minn.
Phase I – Jefferson Parish Environmental Affairs, La.
Phase II – City of Auburn, Ala.
Phase I – City of Austin, Texas Watershed Protection Department
Phase II – Kitsap County Public Works, Wash.2015 Awards Program Information
2015 Awards Program Information
Location
State
Program Management
Innovation
City of Santa Monica
Santa Monica
Calif.
SILVER
SILVER
Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection
Rockville
Md.
GOLD
SILVER
City of Chattanooga
Chattanooga
Tenn.
SILVER
SILVER
Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans
New Orleans
La.
SILVER
SILVER
City of Tacoma
Tacoma
Wash.
SILVER
SILVER
Tennessee Department of Transportation
Nashville
Tenn.
SILVER
SILVER
Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District
Louisville
Ky.
SILVER
SILVER
Charlotte Stormwater Services
Charlotte
N.C.
GOLD
GOLD
Location
State
Program Management
Innovation
City of Mt. Juliet
Mt. Juliet
Tenn.
SILVER
BRONZE
Jefferson Parish
Jefferson
La.
SILVER
SILVER
Town of Ceredo
Ceredo
W.V.
SILVER
BRONZE
Lafayette Consolidated Government
Lafayette
La.
GOLD
SILVER
City of Springfield
Springfield
Ohio
SILVER
SILVER
Chemung County Stormwater Coalition
Horseheads
N.Y.
SILVER
SILVER
Capitol Region Watershed District
St. Paul
Minn.
SILVER
GOLD
City of Valparaiso
Valparaiso
Ind.
GOLD
SILVER
Purdue University
Lafayette
Ind.
SILVER
SILVER
City of St. Cloud
St. Cloud
Minn.
SILVER
SILVER
Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District
St. Louis
Mo.
SILVER
SILVER
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo
Mich.
SILVER
SILVER
South Burlington
South Burlington
Vt.
SILVER
GOLD
City of Inver Grove Heights
Inver Grove Heights
Minn.
SILVER
GOLD
St. Tammany Parish (County)
Covington
La.
SILVER
SILVER
City of Oshkosh
Oshkosh
Wis.
SILVER
SILVER
City of Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa
Ala.
SILVER
SILVER
City of Lenexa
Lenexa
Kan.
SILVER
SILVER
Town of Ashland
Ashland
Va.
GOLD
SILVER
City of Fairbanks
Fairbanks
Alaska
GOLD
GOLD
City of Storm Lake
Storm Lake
Iowa
SILVER
SILVER
City of Alexandria
Alexandria
Va.
GOLD
GOLD
If you have any questions, please contact Bianca Pinto at BPinto@wef.org.