The Great Lakes Water Utility Energy Challenge Announces Its Six Finalist Utilities
Washington, DC, May 24, 2017 (Newswire.com) - The Great Lakes Protection Fund and American Water Works Association are pleased to announce the finalists in the Water Utility Energy Challenge (WUEC), an innovative program which engages water operators in a competition to reduce the emissions sourced in their energy generation. The inaugural 2017-2018 competition, focused on the Great Lakes Basin, is aimed at connecting the utilities with new innovative software while fostering an awareness of the associated emissions, particularly mercury.
The six finalist water utilities are:
Canada
United States
- City of Highland Park, Highland Park, Illinois
- City of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Great Lake Water Authority (GLWA), Detroit, Michigan
- Onondaga County Water Authority (OCWA), North Syracuse, New York
- City of Bayfield, Bayfield, Wisconsin
“We’re really excited with the breadth of the WUEC finalists. They were chosen from a broad field of applicants and these six utility leaders represent a wide range of communities, from Bayfield, Wisconsin, which serves fewer than 1,000 residents, to the Great Lakes Water Authority, which serves more than 4 million residents in 125 communities across southeast Michigan. The fact that there were both U.S. and Canadian finalists also illustrates that regardless of the operation’s scale or location, utilities can use the cleanest energy to deliver clean, safe drinking water to their customers,” said David LaFrance, AWWA CEO.
“These finalists characterize the next generation of water utility who will reduce emissions while improving the financial health of their systems. We’re excited to see the geographic range of utilities across the entire Great Lakes Basin as well as a mix of water and combined water/wastewater systems. The competition is another step toward protecting and restoring the health of our shared Great Lakes waters,” said David Rankin, Vice President of Programs, GLPF.
The competition will run through April 2018, with award and cash prizes presented later in the spring. More information on the challenge can be found by visiting www.AWWA.org/competition.
About the Water Utility Energy Challenge
The Water Utility Energy Challenge (WUEC) is a technology competition focused on water utilities in the Great Lakes Basin. Offering two top cash prizes of $20,000 and $10,000, the Water Utility Energy Challenge is supported by the Great Lakes Protection Fund. It is a collaborative effort of the American Water Works Association, CDM Smith, E2I, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, Growth Capital Network, and Wayne State University. For more information, visit www.AWWA.org/competition
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About the Great Lakes Protection Fund
The Great Lakes Protection Fund (GLPF) is a private, nonprofit corporation formed in 1989 by the governors of the Great Lakes states. It is a permanent environmental endowment that supports collaborative actions to improve the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem. To date, the Fund has made 269 grants and program-related investments representing over $78 million to support the creative work of collaborative teams that test new ideas, take risks, and share what they learn. www.glpf.org
About the American Water Works Association
Established in 1881, the American Water Works Association is the largest nonprofit, scientific and educational association dedicated to managing and treating water, the world’s most important resource. With approximately 50,000 members, AWWA provides solutions to improve public health, protect the environment, strengthen the economy and enhance our quality of life.
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Source: American Water Works Association, Great Lakes Protection Fund