OREANDA-NEWS. September 30, 2016. Congratulations to CH2M clients; Alexandria Renew (AlexRenew); VCS Denmark; Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department; and the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas, on being named a 2016 Utility of the Future (UOTF) winner by the Water Environment Federation (WEF).

Program honorees were recognized during an awards ceremony from September 24 to 28 at the Water Environment Federation’s Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC® 2016), WEF’s premier water-quality conference.

The UOTF Today Recognition Program celebrates the progress and performance of U.S. and international wastewater utilities, while supporting the widespread adoption of an innovative business model. The program, launched earlier this year by WEF, Water Environment Research Foundation, National Association of Clean Water Agencies and WateReuse, with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, guides utilities of all sizes toward smarter, more efficient operations and assists with a progression to full resource recovery with enhanced productivity, sustainability and resiliency — promoting activities like:

  • Water reuse
  • Watershed stewardship
  • Beneficial biosolids reuse
  • Community engagement
  • Energy efficiency
  • Generation and recovery
  • Recovery of nutrients and other materials.

Because many utilities, like AlexRenew, VCS, Pima County and Fayetteville have successfully implemented new and creative programs to address technical and community challenges associated with local wastewater treatment, this recognition celebrates these advancements and experiences; encourages adoption of UOTF principles as the culture of the future; and enables participants across a broad range of capacities and capabilities to collaborate, learn and continue to evolve as a water unified sector.

“Promoting utilities of the future and the sector-wide adoption of resource recovery remains a top priority for WEF,” said WEF Executive Director Eileen O’Neill. “We are excited about this new opportunity to recognize the achievements of small, medium and large forward-thinking utilities that are providing sustainable, efficient, and value-added service to communities nationwide.”

WEFTEC is North America’s largest water-quality technology and education event. Nearly 25,000 water professionals from around the world gathered in New Orleans for training, awards, networking and spirited competition.