Two DC Water executives earn prestigious honors from international water quality organization;
DC Waters CEO and General Manager George S. Hawkins was named the recipient of the Water Environment Federation (WEF) Public Officials Award, one of its most prestigious honors. WEF is an international not-for-profit technical and educational water quality organization. The award will be presented during a ceremony at WEFs 89th Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference this fall in New Orleans, La.
The Public Officials Award recognizes an individual who has made a documented, significant contribution in the areas of clean water legislation, public policy, government service, or another area of public prominence that resulted in improvements to the water environment.
In 2009, Hawkins was voted to the post of General Manager at DC Water unanimously by the Board of Directors. Since then, he has adopted an ambitious agenda to improve aging infrastructure and comply with stringent regulatory requirements. DC Water is also designing and implementing the $2.6 billion Clean Rivers Project to nearly eliminate overflows of sewage and stormwater to the Anacostia and Potomac rivers and Rock Creek. In addition, Hawkins is driving a vast program to spur innovation in every aspect of its management and operations, highlighted by its digester program to generate electricity from wastewater while also disinfecting the resulting biosolids to be clean enough to sell as the soil amendment marketed as Bloom in the near future. This project is the first in North America to use the CAMBI treatment process, and the largest installation of CAMBI in the world.
Commenting today, Mr. Hawkins said, We are motivated every day by our commitment to a mission that supports every job and every living organism in this capital city, and with our colleagues, in nearly every community on earth. This fundamental need to provide essential drinking water and wastewater services to protect public health and the environment within constrained budgets drives us to relentlessly innovate in how we do that work. As a team, we thirst to learn from the best in the business, and are pleased to be able to help our compatriots as well. As a team, these awards recognize our dedication to public service, innovation and excellence.
In addition, Liliana Maldonado, Director of Engineering & Technical Services at DC Water, was named as a recipient of the prestigious 2016 WEF Fellows designation, which recognizes WEF members achievements, stature, and contributions in the water profession.
"WEF Fellows have made significant professional accomplishments and contributions toward preserving and enhancing the global water environment," said WEF Executive Director Eileen ONeill. "The Federation is pleased to recognize these outstanding professionals for the substance of their impact on clean water."
Finally, DC Water is being recognized in the inaugural Utility of the Future (UOTF) Today recognition program. This program is a joint effort by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), Water Environment Federation (WEF), Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF), and WaterReuse to promote wastewater utilities transition toward smarter, more efficient practices.
DC Water demonstrated a commitment to integrating Utility of the Future principles into the organization, specifically in its organizational culture and energy generation/ recovery for its Bailey Bioenergy Facility.
The UOTF initiative began in 2013 and recognizes the progress made by utilities to implement innovative technologies and to champion a culture of change. As the UOTF brand grows, this recognition will inspire the sector as a whole to achieve still untapped economic and environmental benefits, said NACWA CEO, Adam Krantz. The inaugural recipients represent a diverse array of public and private utilities from across the United States, Canada, and Denmark.
For more information about the Public Officials Award:
wef.org/awards/
For more information about the WEF Fellows Program:
wef.org/weffellowsprogram/
For more information about the Utility of the Future Recognition Program:
https://www.nacwa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2372…
