Over the past several years, the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DCWASA) has won national recognition from industry peer groups in several areas, including regulatory compliance and financial reporting.

2007 AVA Gold Award

The Public Affairs department was awarded the 2007 AVA Gold Award for the production of the Catch Basin Radio Public Service Announcement (PSA), a one-minute radio campaign highlighting the importance of discarding trash in the proper trash receptacle rather than the city.s catch basins. The Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP) recognized WASA for outstanding creativity and production of the radio PSA including concept, writing, direction, shooting, and editing. This award is given for audio-visual materials and programs that exceed the high standards of the audio-visual industry norm. WASA is listed among the 2007 gold award winners on www.avaawards.com.

Metering Awards Program

The Customer Service department was presented with the 2007 Metering Awards Program peer award, by the VPN Global AMI Utility Peer Group for "Best Use of Metering as a Customer Care Tool"

Billy D. Young Recognition Award

Everett Lallis, Director of the Department of Occupational Safety and Health Department received the 2005 Billy D. Young Recognition Award from the National Safety Council, Utilities Division. Lallis was recognized for exemplifying safety and leadership excellence.

2007 Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

Presented by The Government Finance Officers Association, this award recognized WASA's excellence in Budget presentation for the 2007 Budget Book.

2007 Excellence in Financial Reporting Award

The Government Finance Officers Association presented the Finance and budget Department with this award, recognizing the FY 2006 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

WWOA Recognizes WASA

WASA was recognized at the 36th Joint Conference of the Chesapeake Water Environment Association and the Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia branch of the Water and Waste Operators Association (WWOA) with an award for continued support. WASA generously allocates time for staff to attend important training seminars presented by WWOA on environmental, health and safety topics.

National Institute of Government Purchasing "Top Contributor" Award

WASA was recently awarded "Top Contributor of the 2005 National Institute of Government Purchasing Region II" during the Metropolitan Washington Chapter's first Annual Conference.

Biosolids Program Awarded Platinum Tier 4 Status

The biosolids program successfully completed the interim audit for the National Biosolids Partnership Environmental Management System (NBP EMS). The third party auditors finalized their report and forwarded a copy commending DCWASA for its progress. In conjunction, the National Biosolids Partnership (NBP) awarded DCWASA Platinum Tier 4 status in the program, signifying the highest level of commitment and achievement.

Clean Water Action Recognition Award-First Place

During the 2005 Water Environment Federation's 78th Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference, WASA was presented with the Environmental Protection Agency's coveted 2005 National First Place Clean Water Act Recognition Award. The award acknowledged dramatic improvements in WASA's Biosolids Management program through leading edge research, outstanding operational projects, technological advances and extensive outreach and public involvement to promote the beneficial uses of municipal wastewater biosolids.

WASA Awarded Gold Peak Performance Award for Sixth Straight Term

WASA received the prestigious Gold Peak Performance Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), formerly the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA), adding to six gold and three silver awards received in the previous years. This award was received for outstanding plant effluent quality and compliance with the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements.

Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting

The Government Finance Officers Association awarded DCWASA this certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting for 1997-99. It is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting.

Charles Alvin Emerson Medal

Walter Bailey, who heads DCWASA's Department of Wastewater Treatment, was awarded the Charles Alvin Emerson medal, given by the Water Environment Federation. This award is given to the person whose contributions to wastewater collection and treatment most deserve recognition.

W. McLean Bingley Award

Patrick Chesley, an operator at the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant, received the W. McLean Bingley Award for Wastewater Treatment, from the Water and Wastewater Operators Association of Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. This award is for his significant impact on the operation of a wastewater treatment facility and for displaying a commitment to protect the water environment.

Environmental Partnership

The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) recognized DCWASA for "Outstanding Environmental Partnership" for its work with DIA and Kodak to eliminate the discharge of cadmium into wastewater from DIA's Aerial Photography Laboratory.