Austin Water wins sustainability award

The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies has recognized Austin’s water utility for its commitment to sustainability. The utility won the Sustainable Water Utility Management Award at the group’s meeting in Savannah, Georgia, on Monday, according to information provided by Austin Water. Utility Director Greg Meszaros said that receiving the award was “a significant honor. Our region’s drought has driven home the crucial need for sustainability, and this award attests that Austin Water is building a foundation that will sustain our community even in the worst of times. I applaud our employees and the Austin community for everything they’ve done to be responsible stewards of our water resources and water utility.” Austin was selected for the honor in part because of successful conservation and drought management strategies, which the utility said “resulted in the lowest per capita water use by Austin water customers in decades. Usage has declined every year indicating that conservation habits are here to stay,” the utility said in a statement. In addition, the association cited Austin’s partnerships with stakeholders “to develop policies reflective of community values.” The association is an organization of the largest publicly owned water utilities in the U.S.