The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) recognized DC Water with its Award for Excellence in Innovation Tuesday afternoon for its Biosolids Program, which will cut greenhouse gas emissions dramatically, produce more energy, and create higher quality biosolids – all combining to save millions of dollars annually when facilities begin operating in 2014. This new WERF award recognizes organizations that have made improvements to wastewater and stormwater collection, storage or treatment operations, facilities, or processes by applying WERF research. DC Water is one of two organizations to receive the award in its inaugural year. “This project resulted from long-term and extensive collaboration between WERF, DC Water, academia, and the wastewater industry to discover and develop new, key information and even new analytical methods,” said Walter Bailey, PE, DEE, Assistant General Manager, DC Water. “DC Water is unique in its long-term research programs, and that is what allows us to be at the forefront of wastewater technology deployment.” “We believe the process of research, modeling, and technology deployment is of profound importance to the wastewater and biosolids industry in North America and internationally,” states Selection Committee Chair and WERF Board Member Joseph Zuback of Global Water Advisors, Inc. “We recognize DC Water today for their commitment to advancing the industry and for this project that has significant green benefits.” Team members in this unique collaboration include DC Water, Bucknell Universityand the engineering team led by Brown and Caldwell. A team of WERF volunteers who themselves are some of the most recognized individuals in the water quality industry, selected the recipients from a field of many well-qualified organizations. Additional information on this award can be found at www.werf.org or www.dcwater.com About WERF The Water Environment Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization formed in 1989, is Americas leading independent scientific research organization dedicated to wastewater and stormwater issues. About District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water), is an industry leading multi-jurisdictional regional utility that provides drinking water, and wastewater collection and treatment for millions of visitors, residents and employees in the District of Columbia, and also collects and treats wastewater for a population of 1.6 million in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland and Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia. DC Waters service area covers approximately 725 square miles and the enterprise operates the worlds largest advanced wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 370 million gallons per day and has a peak capacity of 1.076 billion gallons per day.