Previous Winners

Friends of Gadsden Creek mobilized as a grassroots, community-led campaign dedicated to opposing the destruction of Gadsden Creek—the last remaining salt marsh ecosystem on the peninsula of Charleston, South Carolina. The portfolio of Friends of Gadsden Creek envisions the revitalization of Gadsden Creek and surrounding wetlands as an essential part of repairing the social, environmental, and economic injustices that have been inflicted upon the neighboring community. The Friends of Gadsden Creek collective is comprised of passionate scientists, designers, an oysterman, a radio show host, students, educators, and naturalists. The collective’s work as activists, educators, environmental scientists, and historians continues to raise awareness of this resilient, invaluable, and beautiful community and creek. Read more about Friends of Gadsden Creek’s work here.  

Salmon Speakers first came together with the goal of amplifying Indigenous voices on both sides of the US-Canada border and inspiring collective action in communities within the Stikine, Taku, Unuk, Nass, and Skeena River valleys. Their efforts center around Indigenous sovereignty, equity, sustainability, food security, and food sovereignty. The team began their work by facilitating gatherings, story circles, and interviews in southeast Alaska and northwest British Columbia. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the team quickly adapted their work—moving from planning a live theatrical performance to a digital production. “When the Salmon Spoke” was produced by Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission and Ping Chong + Company, collaborating with SkeenaWild Conservation Trust and Salmon Beyond Borders. The production features life stories of ten Indigenous citizens tied to the Stikine and weaves together cinematic imagery and Indigenous music and visual art. Read more about Salmon Speakers’ work here. 

Tucson Water is ensuring the city of Tucson, AZ is an independent sustainable desert community, now and fifty years in the future. In the past two years, Tucson Water undertook three One Water projects that advance the goal of effectively managing Tucson’s multiple water resources. The first of these projects is the Santa Cruz River Heritage Project, which reintroduced flowing water to the Santa Cruz riverbed after a 100-year absence. The second project is the Green Stormwater Infrastructure Fund that originated with Tucson Water developing a proposal for a green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) fee and program. The third project is the South Houghton Area Recharge Project, which is a 40-acre recharge and recycle project. Read more about Tucson Water’s work here.

Journalist Ian James, along with colleagues Rob O’Dell, Mark Henle, David Wallace, Nick Oza, and editor Shaun McKinnon at The Arizona Republic, have devoted extensive work to spotlighting pressing water challenges in the state of Arizona. The high-volume portfolio James continues to build upon includes detailed stories on groundwater depletion, the overall lack of water regulation in large portions of Arizona, and promising water management solutions, which have spurred water-related policy proposals in Arizona’s state legislature. His reporting has also examined the widespread problems of inadequate water access in Navajo and Hopi communities, which are compounded by the impacts of climate change and the lasting effects of mining and water sources tainted with hazardous contaminants. Read more about this reporting here.

Flint Community Lab was founded by the community organization Flint Development Center in partnership with Freshwater Future, a nonprofit that helps communities across the Great Lakes region protect their own water.  This lab was developed in response to residents’ distrust of the system created by the Flint Water Crisis through community listening sessions. Their vision is to provide no-cost testing to every home in the community to allow residents to understand the water flowing from their individual tap and if necessary, take steps to improve the quality of that water. The McKenzie Patrice Croom Community Lab will not only provide testing and assistance to residents, but in the process of construction has trained young people in the trades, will provide job training and education to youth in the community and is establishing a sustainable professional lab built and operated by Flint residents.  

Marriott International is committed to a sustainable future for the hotel industry. As part of Marriott’s sustainability and social impact goals, the company aims to reduce water intensity across its managed properties by 15 percent from 2016 levels by year 2025. To achieve this, Marriott International is implementing an integrated water control system for all cooling towers that are part of a hotel’s air conditioning. Marriott also conserves water in several other aspects of hotel operations, including laundry and linen reuse programs, dishwashing and water service at restaurants and events, and landscaping and irrigation. These investments in sustainable and integrated water management illustrate Marriott’s leadership not just in the hotel industry but in the private sector broadly.

Over his long career in Congress, Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland has proven time and time again that he is a champion for America’s water. Senator Cardin is a leading proponent of investing in improvements to America's aging water and wastewater infrastructure system and is a tireless advocate for the environment and water as a natural resource. Senator Cardin is also dedicated to his constituents’ water needs and to water equity across the country, sponsoring bipartisan legislation to fund assistance programs for low income water customers. These historic achievements for our nation’s water, and the citizens who rely on it every day, make Senator Ben Cardin a true One Water leader.

Camden SMART is a community-driven initiative helping the City of Camden tackle its extreme water challenges through innovative, dynamic collaboration on green infrastructure projects. A coalition of six entities – Cooper’s Ferry Partnership, the City of Camden, Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program, New Jersey Tree Foundation, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection – the Camden SMART Initiative is dedicated to upgrading the city’s water systems, remediating the effects of increasing impervious cover on the region’s waterways, and engaging community members in climate resiliency efforts. Benefits to the city include less neighborhood flooding and fewer combined sewer overflows, new sustainable green jobs, improved air and water quality, increased property values, greater economic development opportunities, more recreational amenities and open space, and beautified neighborhoods.

As a nonprofit with a cooperative model and 30 years’ experience serving rural populations, EJ Water’s goal is to help address the access challenges facing rural communities. Understanding that residents in their service area struggle with internet bandwidth as well as access to safe, reliable water, EJ Water developed the Illinois Fiber Connect Project – becoming the first water utility in the country to lay fiber and water lines in the same trench. This Project reduces two-thirds of the cost for telecom installation and allows smart meters to provide live data. This innovative strategy serves to benefit communities by increasing leak detection and saving members money, as well as by improving internet speed.

The "So Close, Yet So Costly" project – developed by The Water Main in partnership with APM Reports, Great Lakes Today, and NPR – explores rising drinking water prices in the Great Lakes Region. Over the course of a nine-month investigation, the team examined the cost of water in the six largest cities near the Great Lakes over the past 10 years and found that rates have risen alarmingly fast and that costs are considerably higher than water scarce cities. The story, told online and on air, highlighted the hidden realities and human costs of America's water infrastructure crisis and is sparking new conversations spotlighting those on the frontlines of tackling water affordability issues.

As one of the world’s largest technology and semiconductor manufacturing companies, Intel Corporation is modeling sustainable water management in a water-intensive industry. Intel Corporation is the first technology company to commit to restore 100 percent of its water use by 2025. Currently returning approximately 80 percent of its water use back to communities, Intel Corporation is achieving its goals through innovative partnerships and water restoration projects. An example of this work is Intel’s partnership with the City of Chandler to use treated wastewater from an Arizona Intel site to replenish a local aquifer. These technological innovations and local partnerships serve to conserve and restore Intel’s water use.

The Yahara Watershed Improvement Network, known as Yahara WINS, is supporting farms, beautiful natural resources, and rural and urban communities in Southern Wisconsin. The first winner of a US Water Prize in the Cross-Sector Partnership category, Yahara WINS brings together nontraditional partners and uses adaptive management to look at their watershed holistically and design interventions that address all sources of phosphorous—from homes and farms to wastewater treatment plants and MS4s—and prevent nutrients from harming the rivers, lakes, and streams in the region. Today, Yahara WINS is a coalition of 24 MS4s, three county conservation departments, three wastewater treatment plants, more than 300 participating farmers, and several agencies and environmental organizations across the watershed.

As the 50th Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, Mayor Greg Fisher has contributed to substantial growth and advancement in the water sector both locally and nationally. He has championed multiple water-related initiatives, including the One Water Initiative, 100 Resilient Cities, Water System Regionalization, and the Louisville MSD Critical Repair and Re-investment Plan. Through these innovative initiatives, Mayor Fischer has improved customer service, identified revenue opportunities, and realized cost savings for the Louisville community. Mayor Fischer’s work illustrates his understanding that investment in our aging water, wastewater, and flood protection systems are part of the formula that will lead to a resilient Louisville.

Aurora, Colorado is facing the water supply problems of many cities and regions in the arid west—a changing climate alongside a growing population. To combat these issues and secure the area's water stability, Aurora Water worked with regional partners to create the Prairie Waters system, a innovative system that recapturing and recycling water to provide drinking water and drought insurance for the region.  Using a multi barrier treatment process that includes both naturally-existing systems and state-of-the-art purification systems, Prairie Waters provides an additional twelve million gallons of clean, safe and dependable water each day. The Prairie Water program will help meet Aurora's complex water needs for decades to come and can be a model for other regions experiencing changes in their water supply needs.  

A keystone of the Kohler corporate philosophy is that better business and a better environment go hand in hand. Kohler has put that philosophy into action by committing to reducing waste and increasing sustainability through its products and its processes through programs like Net Zero 2035. Net Zero 2035 states that Kohler is working towards a goal of sending no solid waste to landfills, reducing or offsetting 100% of their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reducing their water usage. Kohler is working to fulfill this commitment by creating products that surpass industry standards for reducing both water waste and the energy required to treat water. Kohler is a corporate leader in demonstrating that water products can be beautiful, functional, and efficient.

Water has been at the center of Adam Putnam's work his entire career. Through his work as a rancher, State Representative, Congressman, and now Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner Putnam has seen firsthand that Florida's economic future—from agriculture to tourism—depends on clean and reliable water. Commissioner Putnam has used his office to advance policies necessary to secure Florida's water. His accomplishments include securing funding for Everglades preservation and helping establish Florida’s first comprehensive water plan in decades. Our nation's water future depends on the support of public sector advocates like Commissioner Putnam.

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy called the WaterHub at Emory “a model for us all” when she visited the facility in 2015. The first system of its kind installed in the United States, the WaterHub is a campus-scale water reclamation system serving Emory University’s main campus in Atlanta, Georgia. The WaterHub utilizes an eco-engineered treatment process to recycle nearly two-thirds of campus wastewater production – reducing the use of potable water by up to 40 percent. This generates an alternative water supply for critical heating and cooling operations, while consistently providing significant cost savings for utility operations. Moving the field of water reclamation forward by recycling 400,000 gallons of water per day, the WaterHub project serves as a model for sustainable water management for bulk water consumers, which is why Emory University is a 2016 Water Prize winner. 

Drought, climate change, and other water reliability issues have intensified the need for new water sources. Driving toward San Diego's one water future, the successful completion of the Water Purification Demonstration Project enabled the launch of Pure Water San Diego, a 20-year water reuse program. The US Water Alliance awarded the 2015 Water Prize to the City of San Diego to shine a spotlight on this project which will supply 83 million gallons of drinking water locally by 2035. This represents a critical step forward in the development of a reliable, sustainable, and diversified local water supply through a focus on innovation, integration, and education.

A one water future will require we take into account environmental impacts from diverse sources. Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) received a 2015 Water Prize for its commitment to science and collaboration, because EPRI has resolved key hurdles in the deployment of water quality trading. Since 2009, EPRI and power companies, farmers, state and federal agencies, and environmental interests developed an interstate Water Quality Trading (WQT) program in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. Focused on environmental impacts from diverse sources, the project has facilitated broad, non-traditional collaborations to achieve a common goal of water quality improvements and environmental improvements. The EPRI project has become a national model and will be an important template for protecting waters in the United States in the coming decades.

The sustainable and efficient use of water is the foundation for a one water future. That is why he Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) was awarded a 2014 Water Prize. AWE is a nonprofit organization dedicated solely to promoting the efficient and sustainable use of water in North America. Before AWE, no national organization was focused on water efficiency, though for decades there has been considerable efforts around energy efficiency. AWE works to integrate water efficiency into resource management, climate resiliency, and energy policy planning. It unites multiple sectors to demonstrate how efficiency benefits diverse objectives: utility economic viability, environmental benefits, job creation at national, state, and local levels.

Our one water future will require innovative methods and approaches to eliminate combined sewer overflows.  The Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (MSD) received the 2014 Water Prize for its Project Groundwork, a plan to reduce and eliminate sewer overflows into local creeks and rivers that also created community benefits. The largest public works projects in the county’s 200-plus year history, Project Groundwork integrates green and gray infrastructure to maximize ratepayer benefits. The plan includes the Lower Mill Creek project, eliminating 1.78 billion gallons of combined sewer overflows annually.  In addition, an urban waterway or Valley Conveyance System will be constructed in the Lick Run Watershed to channel stormwater during heavy flows. Community benefits such as a walking and biking paths, improved civic recreation space, and bridges are included.  

The US Water Alliance awarded MillerCoors the 2013 Water Prize for conducting a “water blueprint” of their total business operations. MillerCoors' water blueprint presents the kind of holistic approach to water management that should be an industry model. Through the water blueprint, MillerCoors discovered that more than 90 percent of water use occurs in the agriculture supply chain. This caused the company to focus significant energy and resources in this sector, and as a result MillerCoors is leading the way in developing and scaling water-efficient farming practices. To understand risks and identify areas for improvement in their agriculture supply chain, MillerCoors teamed up with The Nature Conservancy in Idaho’s Silver Creek Valley, a region where much of the beer industry’s barley is sourced. Together, they launched a precision irrigation project to use less water in barley farming without reducing yields.

Stewardship by large water users is key to our one water future. PepsiCo received a 2012 US Water Prize for its comprehensive approach to water stewardship, including: watershed preservation, agricultural interventions, responsible use within its operations, and strategic engagement and advocacy.  PepsiCo's water reclamation project at the Casa Grande Snack Facility is a notable example of the company's efforts.  The compact water recovery and recycling facility dramatically reduced the amount of water discharged from the facility by 75 percent; reducing water use by up to 100 million gallons per year.  

A one water future will need citizens well educated in water.  That’s why the US Water Alliance awarded the Project WET (“Water Education for Teachers”) Foundation its Water Prize in 2012.  The nonprofit organization provides training workshops on a wide range of water topics, organizes community water events, and builds a worldwide network of educators, water resource professionals, and scientists to work together on confronting water challenges.  Project WET achieves its mission of worldwide water education in part by publishing award‐winning water education materials, including the free, interactive water education website DiscoverWater.org, the Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide 2.0, the Discover a Watershed series, and the Kids in Discovery series, among others.

When it comes to our one water future the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is on the cutting edge. Its response to the challenges presented by climate change, aging infrastructure, and regulations is to move toward managing water as one resource. With three enterprises, Water, Power and Sewer, the SFPUC works together to manage and protect its varied water resources as one water and in a manner that is inclusive of environmental and community interests.  SFPUC was awarded the US Water Prize in 2011 for implementing the Urban Watershed Management Program, which takes an integrated urban watershed management approach to developing policies that embrace innovation, integration, public participation, and education.

Community collaboration is fundamental to our one water future.  The City of Los Angeles won the 2011 Water Prize for its Water Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) that started with a simple yet ambitious vision: City Departments working with the community to manage water resources holistically. This innovative approach spurred Los Angeles on a seven-year mission to plan for the city's future. The IRP resulted in greater efficiency and multiple citywide benefits, including energy and cost savings, reduced dependence on imported water, reusing stormwater and conserving drinking water.  As implementation continues, stakeholders are engaged and involved—putting Los Angeles on the path to becoming the greenest and cleanest big city in America while ensuring a one water future.

The National Great Rivers Research & Education Center is the result of a unique partnership formed by Lewis and Clark Community College, the University of Illinois and the Illinois Natural History Survey. They received the 2011 US Water Prize for their 30,000-square-foot field station facility.  Through the Center’s education and outreach efforts, the facility’s numerous sustainable design features (onsite water treatment, wind/hydrokinetic power, solar lighting/heat, green roof, permeable pavement, and more) are promoted on a regional and national level as a model for how resource compatible development and community awareness and empowerment can go hand-in-hand.

The Pacific Institute was awarded the US Water Prize in recognition of their role as a thought leader for one water. The Pacific Institute is an innovative and effective independent non-governmental organization in the field of water and sustainability. It has identified efficiency solutions to water shortages; helped define and championed the human right to water; contributed to official water policy changes aimed at sustainability; done groundbreaking research on the impacts of climate change on freshwater resources; and spun off a non-governmental coalition on environmental justice.