MEMBER AWARDS
Celebrating the outstanding achievements and impact our members make to steward limited water resources and advance the adoption of water-efficient practices, products, and policies across North America.
Award Categories
Awards Overview
The Alliance for Water Efficiency proudly recognizes the outstanding achievements of our members through our annual awards program. These awards highlight the dedication, leadership, and significant contributions of both individuals and organizations working to advance water efficiency and conservation.
Since 2009, the Water Star Award has honored exceptional water conservation practitioners for their impact on the field. In 2021, we introduced the Member of the Year Award to celebrate the accomplishments of organizational members. With the launch of the Water Efficiency and Conservation Symposium in 2023, we expanded the awards to include several new categories, with nominations submitted by our members.
Learn more about our 2024 awardees here, and be sure to check back in early spring for the opening of the 2025 awards nomination window.
Excellence in Equity Award
The Excellence in Equity Award recognizes organizational members’ significant success in advancing equity through their work with diverse populations. This may include practices or programs geared towards equitably serving BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ persons, veterans, low-to-moderate-income households, etc.
Awardees:
- 2023 – Tucson Water
- 2024 – Colorado Springs Utilities
Innovation Award
The Innovation Award recognizes technological advances, research breakthroughs, and innovative practices of a current member organization that champions the adoption, implementation, or public acceptance of water efficiency and sustainability.
Awardees
- 2024 – Innovation
- Business: Yoppify
- 2023 – Innovation
- Business: Flume
- Utility Agency: San Diego County Water Authority
Member of the Year Award
The Member of the Year Award recognizes organizational members of the Alliance for Water Efficiency as leaders in the water efficiency and conservation community. An organizational member who has demonstrated consistent commitment to and support of AWE and its mission to promote the efficient and sustainable use of water.
Awardees:
- 2024 – Member of the Year
- Affiliate: Colorado Water Conservation Board
- Business & Industry: LIXIL
- Water Supplier: East Bay Municipal Utility District
- 2023 – Member of the Year
- Affiliate: IAPMO
- Business & Industry: The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company
- Water Supplier: Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
- 2022 – Whirlpool Corporation
- 2021 – Southern Nevada Water Authority
Up and Comer Award
The Up and Comer Award recognizes an individual employee of a current AWE organizational member with less than five years of experience in water efficiency, conservation, and sustainability for their leadership and commitment to pursuing water efficiency as a career path.
Awardees
Water Star Award
The Water Star Award recognizes individual excellence in water efficiency and celebrates a water conservation practitioner who is making a difference through dedication and passion. This individual has made a significant impact in the water efficiency, conservation, and sustainability field.
Awardees:
- 2024 – Deirdre Irwin, St. John’s River Water Management District
- 2023 – Christine Chavez, City of Santa Fe, NM
- 2022 – Kevin Reidy, Colorado Water Conservation Board
- 2021 – Denise Schmidt, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
- 2020 – Bill Hoffman, H.W. Hoffman & Associates, LLC
- 2019 – Kathy Nguyen, Cobb County Water System
- 2018 – Glen Pleasance, Region of Durham, Ontario, CAN
- 2017 – Carole Baker, Texas Water Foundation
- 2016 – Veronica Blette, U.S. EPA WaterSense® Program
- 2015 – Fiona Sanchez, Irvine Ranch Water District
- 2014 – Amy Vickers, Amy Vickers & Associates, Inc.
- 2013 – Doug Bennett, Southern Nevada Water Authority
- 2012 – Karen Guz, San Antonio Water System
- 2011 – Bill Maddaus, Maddaus Water Management
- 2010 – George Kunkel, Philadelphia Water Department
- 2009 – John Flowers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Volunteer Appreciation Award
The Volunteer Appreciation Award is given to an employee of a current organizational member who served AWE in an expanded role over the past year, such as a board member, committee chair/co-chair/vice-chair, or volunteer. This person has gone above and beyond to support and serve the organization and advance our mission.
Awardees