Excellence in Innovation Award

ACWA’s Excellence in Innovation Award recognizes successful innovations by member agencies that continue to support and drive California toward long-term water resilience. The award recognizes groundbreaking and unique programs, projects, practices and/or technologies implemented by ACWA member agencies. The award is sponsored by CDM Smith.

Apply for this Award

Please review the Excellence in Innovation Award Guidelines thoroughly before completing the award application. Applicants who do not meet the minimum eligibility requirements will not be considered. Applications are now closed. Applications for the 2025 cycle will open in summer 2025.

Eligibility

  • The applicant(s) must be a public agency member of ACWA.
  • Submissions that include multiple agencies or entities must identify at least one ACWA member agency in the lead role.
  • Projects are not eligible if they have been completed for more than two years.
  • Multi-year, multi-phase projects do not have to be completed at the time of entry, but must have quantifiable results to be considered.
  • An agency may submit no more than one entry for this award per year and a winning submission is not eligible to win multiple ACWA awards.
  • A member agency is not eligible to submit for this award for three years after winning.
  • Entries must be submitted electronically by Sept. 1 of each year (if Sept. 1 falls on a weekend or holiday, entries will be due the following day).

Requirements for Entries

Entries must be accompanied by a typewritten narrative that briefly explains the innovation and how it meets the below criteria for selection. Narratives must be 1,000 words or less to be considered.

  • Objective: What were your agency’s goals and objectives or desired outcome of the innovation?
  • Innovation: How is the entry innovative — e.g. how is it better than the common practice? Is it unique and groundbreaking? How does it creatively address a water industry issue or priority?
  • Resources/Budget: What resources did your agency use to meet the goals and objectives — e.g. funding, materials, partnerships, staff? Explain how your agency used these resources efficiently.
  • Results: How did the innovation meet the goal and objectives? Show clear quantifiable evidence of successful adoption.
  • Replicable: Can other water agencies replicate what has been done?
  • Finalists will be asked to provide at least 5 photos, graphics, video clips or other visuals (high resolution electronic formats preferred) that represent their entry for purposes of the awards presentation.
  • Finalists will be given the opportunity to share their innovation at the ACWA Spring
    Conference.

Examples of Entries

A wide variety of projects, practices, programs and technologies are eligible, including but not limited to the following:

  • Drought Resilience
  • Water Use Efficiency
  • Operational Efficiency
  • Capital Improvements
  • IT Improvements
  • Customer Service Initiatives
  • Water Quality Improvement
  • Water Reliability/Sustainability
  • Water Affordability
  • Governance / Administration
  • Watershed / Ecosystem Protection
  • Environmental Initiatives (Pollution Reduction/Prevention)
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Renewable Energy
  • Partnerships/Collaborations
  • Leadership and Professional Development
  • HR Innovations (e.g. Recruitment, Retention, Succession Planning)

* Public information/outreach/education programs and efforts are NOT eligible.

Questions

Questions can be directed to awards@acwa.com.

Past Winners

Suggested Resources

15 RESOURCES prev next
Outreach Handbook

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

2024 Year in Review

ACWA’s “2024 Year in Review” outlines ACWA’s advocacy wins, awards and services provided to members, as well as events and […]

2025 Key Federal Water Issues

The 2025 Key Federal Water Issues document includes information on water supply, water quality, agriculture and climate variability and resiliency. […]

2025-26 State Budget: Climate Bond Implementation and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

To: President pro Tempore Mike McGuire, Speaker Robert Rivas, Honorable Scott Wiener, Honorable Jesse Gabriel, Honorable Benjamin Allen, Honorable Steve […]

ACWA’s Five-Year Strategic Plan

The ACWA Board of Directors approved a new five-year strategic plan in September 2024. The new plan will afford the […]

Comment Letter: Request to Include Ballast Water in State of California Petition

To: The Honorable Rob Bonta Subject: ACWA Request to Include Ballast Water in State of California Petition for Review Regarding […]

Priority Issues Bulletin

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

ACWA-Sponsored SB 394 (Allen) Fact Sheet with Examples

Public water agencies are responsible for delivering safe, clean, and affordable drinking water throughout California. However, in recent years, water […]

Comment Letter: Kern County Subbasin

To: Ms. Courtney Tyler, Clerk to the Board, State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Kern County Subbasin Letter: The Association […]

Recycled Water Budget Comment Letter

To: The Honorable Gavin Newsom, The Honorable Mike McGuire, The Honorable Robert Rivas, The Honorable Scott Wiener, The Honorable Jesse […]

Comment Letter: Bioenergy Feed-in Tariff Program

To: The Honorable Alice Reynolds, President, The Honorable John Reynolds, Commissioner, California Public Utilities Commission Subject: Need to Extend the Bioenergy Feed-In […]

Dam Safety and Resilience Program – 2024/25 Budget Funds

To: The Honorable Gavin Newsom and Policy Chairs and Budget Subcommittee Chairs Subject: Dam Safety and Resilience Program – Updated 2024/25 […]

Wildfires and Water: The Role of California Public Water Agencies Factsheet

California faces catastrophic climate-driven wildfires, exacerbated by periods of heavy rainfall followed by periods of extreme drought, decades of fire […]

Comment Letter: Draft Sacramento/Delta Bay-Delta Plan Updates

To: Mr. Erik Ekdahl, Deputy Director, Division of Water Rights, State Water Resources Control Board Subject: Draft Sacramento/Delta Bay-Delta Plan Updates Letter: […]

Comment Letter: Proposed Public Health Goal for NDMA

To: Ms. Hermelinda Jimenez, PHG Program, Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology Branch, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Environmental Protection Agency […]

Suggested News

15 Articles prev next
Meet Lindsay Leahy, SMWD’s Deputy General Manager

Santa Margarita Water District is excited to introduce Lindsay Leahy as the Deputy General Manager at Santa Margarita Water District. […]

Meet Kristine Day, SMWD’s Assistant General Manager

Santa Margarita Water District is thrilled to welcome Kristine Day as its new Assistant General Manager. In her role, Kristine […]

ACWA Foundation Retools Website as Water Workforce Career Pathway

SACRAMENTO — The ACWA Foundation this week launched a newly redesigned website that focuses on the non-profit’s goals of career […]

West Basin Awards Contract for Recycled Water Facilities

West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin or District) has selected Jacobs Project Management Company to provide operations and maintenance […]

CVWD Celebrates 70 Years of Service

RANCHO CUCAMONGA — On March 25, 2025, the Cucamonga Valley Water District (CVWD) proudly celebrated its 70th anniversary, marking seven decades […]

Bureau Further Increases CVP Allocations

SACRAMENTO – The Bureau of Reclamation on March 27 announced an increase in Central Valley Project 2025 water supply allocations, […]

Snowpack Close to Average Near End of Wet Season

SACRAMENTO – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today conducted the April snow survey at Phillips Station. The manual survey […]

ACWA Leading Coalition Opposing SB 601 Wastewater Discharge Bill

ACWA is urging members to join a coalition opposing SB 601, which would needlessly complicate the state’s wastewater discharge permitting […]

More Storms Allow Extra Boost to SWP Deliveries

SACRAMENTO – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced March 25 that wet and cold storms in March have allowed […]

Rancho Water Promotes Water Industry Leader Dan Ruiz to Assistant General Manager

TEMECULA – Rancho California Water District (Rancho Water/District) is pleased to announce the promotion of Dan Ruiz, P.E., as its […]

New Strategic Plan Optimizes ACWA’s Value to Members

Our members expect ACWA to make their voices heard in Sacramento and Washington D.C. They also want an organization that […]

March 21, 2025 ACWA News Available

Sorry, but only ACWA members have permission to view this content. Member login is required.

Spotlight March 2025: Fresno Area Member Agencies Collaborate on Water and Climate Resiliency, Recharge and Reliability

Multi-beneficial use describes the gold standard sought and attained by many ACWA member agency projects, and one currently taking shape […]

Grant Support Partnership Boosts Local Water Agency Projects

BEAUMONT – The San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency (SGPWA) Board of Directors recently approved an agreement to provide $1.5 million […]

Key Water Bills Advance Out of Committees

SACRAMENTO — A bill co-sponsored by ACWA tightening penalties for water theft and a second bill proposing a low-income rate […]