On Monday, Oct. 2, 13 high-performing municipalities received recognition in the third annual National MS4 Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards. These awards celebrate administrators of municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) that perform beyond regulatory requirements.

Developed and introduced in 2015 by the Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this year’s distinctions were awarded to the winners during the annual Stormwater Congress Luncheon at WEFTEC 2017 in Chicago.

The awards recognize performance in the categories of innovation and program management as well combined high scores in both categories. Applications for the National MS4 Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards are reviewed by a broad subcommittee of water sector experts.

The awards also are separated into two classifications based on the population of the communities they serve. The classifications are

  • Phase I, which encompassed medium or large cities with more than 100,000 customers and
  • Phase II, which encompasses smaller storm sewer systems outside of heavily populated urban areas.

The winners of the 3rd annual National MS4 Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards are as follows:

Overall Highest Scores

  • Phase I – City of Austin, Texas, Watershed Protection Department
  • Phase II – Capitol Region Watershed District, St. Paul, Minn.

Innovation

  • Phase I – Boston Water and Sewer Commission
  • Phase II – Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Program Management

  • Phase I – City of Alpharetta, Ga.
  • Phase II – City of Alexandria, Va.

This year’s recipients were awarded silver or gold certificates based on their level of performance in innovation or program management.

Gold recognition in Innovation
Phase I

  • Boston Water and Sewer Commission
  • City of Alpharetta, Ga.
  • City of Corpus Christi, Texas
  • City of Grand Rapids, Mich.
  • City of Austin, Texas, Watershed Protection Department

Phase II

  • Capitol Region Watershed District, St. Paul, Minn.
  • City of Alexandria, Va.

Silver recognition in Innovation
Phase I

  • City of Wichita, Kan.
  • Columbus, Ohio, Division of Sewerage and Drainage
  • Louisville, Ky., MSD
  • City of Dayton, Ohio; Department of Water

Phase II

  • City of Surprise, Ariz.
  • Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Gold recognition in Program Management
Phase I

  • Boston Water and Sewer Commission
  • City of Alpharetta, Ga.
  • City of Corpus Christi, Texas
  • City of Grand Rapids, Mich.
  • City of Austin, Texas, Watershed Protection Department

Phase II

  • Capitol Region Watershed District, St. Paul, Minn.
  • City of Alexandria, Va.

Silver recognition in Program Management
Phase I

  • City of Dayton, Ohio; Department of Water
  • City of Wichita, Kan.
  • Columbus, Ohio, Division of Sewerage and Drainage
  • Louisville, Ky., MSD

Phase II

  • City of Surprise, Ariz.
  • Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

 For more information about the MS4 recognition program, visit www.wef.org/MS4awards.