San Francisco, CA – For the third straight year, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission has been recognized for its innovation and excellence by Utility of the Future Today, a consortium of national water resource nonprofit organizations.
“We are honored to be recognized once again for our commitment to sustainable, responsible water use practices,” said SFPUC General Manager Harlan L. Kelly, Jr. “To be included among the top utilities in the country for the third straight year is a testament to the forward-thinking nature of our dedicated employees.”
The Utility of the Future Today recognition program celebrates the achievements of water utilities that transform from a traditional wastewater treatment system to a resource recovery center and leader in the overall sustainability and resilience of the communities they serve. The SFPUC was one of 65 utilities from across the nation to receive the honor.
Utility of the Future Today was launched in 2016 by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), The Water Research Foundation (WRF) and the WateReuse Association, with input from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
"The transformational approach to utility management each of the Utility of Future Today honorees has shown benefits communities in several significant ways," said WEF President Jackie Jarrell. "We are delighted to celebrate the impact of these utilities and proud to recognize their leadership in water sector innovation."
The SFPUC is being recognized for its work in the field of Partnering and Engagement. Since 2014, the agency has been leading a collaborative to advance onsite water reuse that brings together more than 30 members from water and wastewater utilities and public health agencies across North America. These members represent 14 states, the District of Columbia, the EPA, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, City of Toronto, and City of Vancouver.
The SFPUC chairs this collaborative, called the National Blue Ribbon Commission for Onsite Non-potable Water Systems. The goals of the Blue Ribbon Commission are to foster peer-to-peer learning and address key issues including creating consistent water quality standards from state-to-state, promoting risk-based water quality standards, and encouraging local oversight programs.
The SFPUC was among the 65 recipients recognized today during a pre-recorded awards ceremony this morning at the virtual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibit and Conference.
About the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is a department of the City and County of San Francisco. It delivers drinking water to 2.7 million people in the San Francisco Bay Area, collects and treats wastewater for the City and County of San Francisco, and generates clean power for municipal buildings, residential customers, and businesses. Our mission is to provide our customers with high quality, efficient and reliable water, power, and sewer services in a manner that values environmental and community interests and sustains the resources entrusted to our care. Learn more at www.sfwater.org.
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