This document includes awards received by the Orange County Water District
from 2003-2023. To view more recent awards, please visit our website, ocwd.com.
Award Name / Award Designation / Organization
2003
1. Drought-Proofing Award / GWRS / SAWPA
2. Orange County PROTOS Award / OCWD and Porter Novelli for the GWRS Community
Relations Program / PROTOS (Public Relations Society of America - PRSA) / Local
2004
3. 2004 Public Education Program of the Year / OCWD / National WateReuse Association /
National
4. 2004 MarCom Platinum Award / OCWD and OCSD for the GWRS Community Outreach
Program / MarCom / International
2005
5. AWWA Public Communications Achievement Award / OCWD and staff for GWRS
Outreach Program / AWWA / National
6. (February 2005) Recycled Water Public Education Program of the Year / OCWD and
OCSD for GWRS Community Outreach Program / California/Nevada WateReuse
Association / State
2006
7. FEMA $2,852,606 grant / OCWD, to assist in repairing and restoring the Prado Wetlands
/ U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Managements Agency
(FEMA) / National
8. ACWA/JPIA recognition / OCWD, for achieving a low ration of paid claims and reserves
to its deposit premium for the period 07/01/02 to 06/30/05 / The Association of California
Water Agencies Joint Powers Insurance Authority (ACWA/JPIA) / State
9. Client of the Year / OCWD / Orange County Chapter of the Consulting Engineers and
Land Surveyors of California (CELSOC) / Local
10. Silver Anvil Award / OCWD, OCSD, Porter Novelli / Public Relations Society of America /
National
11. PROTOS Award / OCWD / Orange County Chapter of the Public Relations Society of
America for the GWRS Speakers Bureau / Local
12. California Historic Civil Engineering Landmark Award / OCWD, for conserving surface
flows of the Santa Ana River and managing the groundwater basin. As well as receiving
acknowledgement for its leadership in the development of visionary water reuse projects
/ ASCE / National
13. Project of the Year Award / OCWD, IRWD for the Irvine Desalter Project / APWA /
National
2007
OCWD Awards 2003-2023
Orange County Water District 2
14. President’s Special Recognition Award / OCWD / Association of California Agencies
Joint Powers Insurance Authority / State
15. PROTOS Award / OCWD – “Editorial Article for a Trade Publication” / Orange County
Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA OC) / Local
16. Award of Excellence / GWRS’s multicultural outreach and education campaign / - Public
Relations Society of America (PRSA OC) / Local
17. Outstanding Member Award / OCWD & Mehul Patel / AMTA / National
2008
18. Resolution/ GWRS / MWD / Local
19. Engineering Project of the Year Award / GWRS / Orange County Engineering Council /
Local
20. Project of the Year / GWRS / American Society of Civil Engineers /
21. Large Agency of the Year / OCWD / WateReuse Association California
22. City of Huntington Beach Commendation for Environmental Achievement / GWRS /
Orange County League of Conservation Voters
23. Special Recognition for Environmental Achievement / GWRS / California State Senate,
sponsored by Senator Tom Harman
24. Award of Distinction, Water Project of the Year / GWRS / Global Water Intelligence
(GWI)
25. Global Water Intelligence Public Agency of the Year / GWRS / GWI
26. Special Recognition for Environmental Excellence / OCWD & OCSD for GWRS / Orange
County League of Conservation Voters
27. Clair A. Hill Award / GWRS / ACWA
28. United States Congressional Recognition for Environmental Achievement / GWRS / U.S.
House of Representatives
29. Stockholm 2008 Industry Water Award / OCWD & OCSD for GWRS / Stockholm Water
Foundation
30. International Water Association Honor Award – Design Projects / OCWD / IWA
31. Southern California Edison Savings By Design Awards, totaling $421,432 / GWRS /
Southern California Edison
32. Board President of the Year / OCSD Board Chair Doug Davert and OCWD Board
President Steve Sheldon – GWRS / CSDA
33. 2008 Kevin J. Neese Award / OCWD & GWRS / Groundwater Resources Association of
California
34. Toshiba Green Innovation Award / OCWD & OCSD for GWRS / Toshiba
35. Water Efficiency Award / OCWD & GWRS / EPA
2009
36. PISCES Award / OCWD & GWRS / EPA
37. “Golden State” Award of Excellence / OCWD & OCSD for GWRS / American Council of
Engineering Companies
38. Green California Leadership Award, Water Management / OCWD & GWRS / Green
California Summit & Exposition of Sacramento
39. Grand Conceptor Award / OCWD & OCSD for GWRS / American Council of Engineering
Companies
40. Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award / OCWD & OCSD for GWRS /
American Society of Civil Engineers
41. UV Engineering Project of the Year Award / GWRS / International Ultraviolet Association
Orange County Water District 3
42. Orange County Coastkeeper Costal Protection Award / OCWD & OCSD for water
stewardship & GWRS / Orange County Coastkeeper
43. 2009 Said Khoury Award for Engineering Construction Excellence / GWRS engineers
(OCWD Director Denis Bilodeau, P.E.; OCWD General Manager Mike Markus, P.E.;
OCSD Director of Engineering Jim Herberg; and Richard Corneille, P.E., from CDM) /
Said Khoury
44. Savings By Design $64,719 incentive check / OCWD / Southern California Edison
2010
45. Recovery Champion Award / OCWD’s Natural Resources Director Dr. Richard Zembal /
United States Fish & Wildlife Service
46. Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting / OCWD, superb
financial accountability and reporting of its fiscal year / Government Finance Officers
Association
47. Overall Top Project / OCWD’s Advanced Water Quality Assurance Laboratory, Fountain
Valley / California Construction magazine
2011
48. $1 million water sustainability grant / OCWD, for GWRS expansion of 30 MGD /
California Department of Water Resources
2012
49. Membrane Facility of the Year / GWRS / AWWA and AMTA
50. Recycled Water Staff Person of the Year / OCWD Director of Water Production Willam
Dunivin / WateReuse Association California
51. Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting / OCWD, for superb
financial accountability and reporting of tis fiscal year / Government Finance Officers
Association
52. Conservator of the Year / OCWD / Bolsa Chica Conservancy
2013
53. Distinguished Service Awards / OCWD Principal Process Engineer & GWRS Program
Manager Mehul Patel / SWMOA
54. Environmental Communications Honor Award / OCWD’s GWRS outreach campaign /
American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists
55. Major Civil Engineering Project of the Century Award / GWRS / International Federation
of Consulting Engineers
2014
56. U.S. Water Prize / OCWD & OCSD for GWRS / U.S. Water Alliance
57. Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize / OCWD / Singapore International Water Week
58. Government Leadership Award / OCWD, IWRD, YLWD / California Association of Local
Agency Formation
2015
59. Flood Management Project of the Year Award / OCWD’s Burris Pump Station Project
Phase 1 / American Society of Civil Engineers
60. Savings By Design $500,000 grant / OCWD & GWRS initial expansion / Southern
California Edison
Orange County Water District 4
61. Water & Wastewater International Top 25 Industry Leaders / OCWD General Manager
Mike Markus / Water & Wastewater International magazine
62. Outstanding Capital Project / OCWD and OCSD for GWRS’s initial expansion /
California Association of Sanitary Agencies
2016
63. UV Engineering Project of the Year / OCWD / International Ultraviolet Association
64. Electrical Excellence Award / GWRS / Orange County Chapter of the National Electrical
Contractors Association
65. Membrane Facility of the Year / OCWD’s GWRS Initial Expansion / American Membrane
Technology Association (AMTA) and AWWA
66. Engineering Achievement Award / GWRS Initial Expansion / Orange County Engineering
Council
67. Water/Wastewater Treatment Project of the Year / GWRS Initial Expansion / American
Society of Civil Engineers
68. Partners in Excellence Award / OCWD for 2016 CWEF / Disneyland Resort
69. Large Agency of the Year / OCWD, for collaboration with OCSD for GWRS Initial
Expansion / WateReuse Association California
70. Water Reuse Project of the Year Distinction Award / OCWD & GWRS Initial Expansion /
Global Water Intelligence (GWI)
71. 2016 Excellence in Environmental Engineering and Science Award / GWRS Initial
Expansion / American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists
72. Large Agency of the Year / OCWD & OCSD for GWRS Initial Expansion / WateReuse
Association
73. Outstanding Membrane Plant Award – Large Facility / GWRS / Southwest Membrane
Operators Association (SWMOA)
74. APEX 2016 Award for Publication Excellence / OCWD’s website / APEX
75. Exceptional Utility Leader in Water Reuse and Conservation / OCWD / International
Desalination Association
76. Water Environment Federation Project Excellence Award / GWRS Initial Expansion /
Water Environment Federation
77. 2016 Cool Planet Award / OCWD / Southern California Edison and The Climate Change
Registry
78. MarCom Gold Award / OCWD’s 40 minute animated PowerPoint presentation titled
“Water Manufacturing Process” / MarCom Awards
79. Sandor C. Csallany Institutional Award – Exemplary Contributions to Water Resources
Management 2016 Medal / OCWD / American Water Resources Association
2017
80. Ava Digital 2017 Gold Award / OCWD’s 40 minute animated PowerPoint presentation
titled “Water Manufacturing Process” / AVA Digital Awards
81. Public Communications Achievement (Honorable Mention) / OCWD’s public outreach
programs and public affairs / AWWA
82. ASCE Outstanding Water Project Award / OCWD’s La Palma Water Recharge Basin /
ASCE
83. 2017 OCEC Engineering Project Achievement Award / OCWD’s La Palma Water
Recharge Basin / Orange County Engineering Council
84. Excellence in Environmental Engineering & Science Awards Competition Honor Award /
GWRS Final Expansion Feasibility Study / American Academy of Environmental
Engineers & Scientists
Orange County Water District 5
85. Bronze Astrid Award - Design Communications in the Miscellaneous/Other Permanent
Museum-like Exhibit category / OCWD H2O Learning Center / MerComm Inc.
86. John Muir Conservation Awards – Environmental Education & Public Agency / OCWD /
John Muir Awards
87. Communitas Award – Corporate Social Responsibility / 2016 CWEF / Communitas
Awards
88. 2017 Pioneer in Groundwater Award / OCWD General Manager Mike Markus /
Environmental & Water Resources Institute
89. Gold PR World Award – Training or Educational Event / CWEF / PR World Awards
90. Public Education Program of the Year / OCWD / WaterReuse
91. One Planet Silver Award – Product or Service Launch / GWRS Bottled Wate Launch /
One Planet Silver
2018
92. GEELA (Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award) / OCWD /
California EPA
93. Guinness World Record – Most wastewater recycled to drinking water in 24 hours /
GWRS / Guiness World Records
94. Recycled Water Advocate of the Year / OCWD Assistant General Manager Michael
Wehner / WateReuse California
95. Honor Award for Research / OCWD / American Academy of Environmental Engineers
and Scientists
96. Grand Prize for Environmental Communications / OCWD & OCSD for GWRS / American
Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES)
97. Ragan’s 2017 PR Daily Honorable Mention / OCWD, OCSD, & Dick Jones
Communications, GWRS bottled water launch / Ragan Communications
98. Platinum Hermes Award / OCWD & OCSD (Advanced Purified Bottled Water Campaign
in the category Public Relations/Communications/Strategic Programs/78c. PR
Campaign) / Hermes Creative Awards
99. Outstanding Subscriber Award / OCWD, for applied research / Water Research
Foundation
100. Outstanding Plant Operator Award / OCWD Operations Manager Tyson Neely /
SWMOA
101. Award of Excellence / OCWD & OCSD, GWRS bottled water campaign / Orange
County Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA OC)
102. SETAC Stephen J. Klaine Environmental Education Award / OCWD’s
environmental educational programs / Society of Environmental Toxicology and
Chemistry
103. Huell Howser Best in Blue / OCWD, GWRS bottled water campaign / ACWA
2019
104. Water Treatment Project of the Year / OCWD – Mid Basin Centennial Park
Injection Well Project / American Society of Civil Engineers ASCEOC
105. Project Achievement Award / OCWD – Mid Basin Centennial Park Injection Well
Project / Orange County Engineering Council
106. Mercury Award / OCWD & OCSD for GWRS Bottled Water Campaign –
outstanding achievement in professional communications / Mercury Excellence Awards
107. Water Resources Utility of the Future Today / OCWD / National Association of
Clean Water Agencies, Water Environmental Federation, the Water Research
Orange County Water District 6
Foundation, and the WateReuse Association, with input from the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency
108. AMWA Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance / OCWD / AMWA
109. Leading Utility of the World / OCWD / Global Water Leaders Group
2020
110. Financial Reporting Excellence / OCWD’s Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report (CAFR) for the 12th year in a row / The Government Finance Officers
Association (GFOA)
111. One Planet Gold Medals (3) / OCWD - “Affirms the Safety and Reliability of Local
Water Supply”: Communications or PR Campaign of the Year, Heightening Awareness
and Publicity Campaign of the Year, Marketing Campaign of the Year / One Planet
112. AAA Fitch Rating / OCWD – sound financial planning / AAA Fitch
113. International iNova Bronze Award / OCWD - COVID-19 website in the
Campaigns: Non-profit Campaign category / iNova
114. Technology Innovation Citizens Award / OCWD - virtual outreach response to
COVID-19 / AT&T and Government Technology magazine
115. ACWA Outreach Award / OCWD - Region 10 winner of the 2020 Outreach
Recognition Award for outstanding efforts in helping ACWA accomplish its legislative
goals / ACWA
2021
116. Water/Wastewater Project of the Year Award / Orange County Water District and
Serrano Water District for their collaborative work on the Serrano Water District PFAS
Treatment Plant / The American Society of Civil Engineers Orange County, California
Branch (ASCE OC)
117. Clair A. Hill Agency Award for Excellence / OCWD for launching the nation’s
largest PFAS pilot testing program / ACWA
118. Agency of Distinction, Resilient Water Agency of the Year / OCWD & GWRS /
Global Water Intelligence
119. First Place Water Program, Small-Size Utility Category / OCWD was recognized
for proactively and swiftly launching the nation’s largest PFAS treatment pilot program /
The California Municipal Utilities Association (CMUA)
120. Honors Award, Research Category / OCWD’s completion of a multifaceted
treatment study to address the occurrence of PFAS in local drinking water supplies / The
American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES)
121. President’s Award / General Manager Mike Markus - leadership in advancing
water recycling in California / WateReuse California
122. Recycled Water Staff Person of the Year / OCWD Principal Engineer Ben Smith /
WateReuse California
2022
123. Outstanding Water Project and Project of the Year / OCWD & YLWD for the
YLWD PFAS Treatment Plant / American Society of Civil Engineers Orange County
124. Excellence in Promotion of Infrastructure / General Manager Mike Markus for his
leadership in engineering and water reuse / The American Society of Civil Engineers
Orange County
125. Excellence in Lab Management / Supervising Chemist Lily Vuong Sanchez for
exceptional leadership and management skills / Lab Manager
126. Most Effective Agency on Federal Issues / OCWD / ACWA
Orange County Water District 7
127. GRA Kevin J. Neese Award / OCWD - robust PFAS treatment program /
Groundwater Resources Association
128. Water Treatment Project of the Year and Project of the Year / OCWD & YLWD
for the YLWD PFAS Treatment Plant / American Society of Civil Engineers Los Angeles
Section
129. AMWA Platinum Award / OCWD / The Association of Metropolitan Water
Agencies (AMWA)
2023
130. GWRS Grand Prize for Design / GWRS – headworks facility / American
Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES)
131. Outstanding Project Award / OCWD & YLWD - YLWD Ion Exchange (IX) PFAS
Water Treatment Plant / American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Region 9
132. Excellence in Innovation / GWRSFE / ACWA
133. Outstanding Water/Wastewater Treatment Project / GWRSFE / The American
Society of Civil Engineers Orange County (ASCE OC)
134. Outstanding Water/Wastewater Treatment Project of the Year / GWRSFE / The
American Society of Civil Engineers Orange County (ASCE OC)
135. Project Achievement Award / OCWD & OC San for GWRSFE / The Construction
Management Association of America (CMAA)
136. Beacon Award, Honorable Mention / Orange County Sanitation District and
OCWD for its partnership on the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) / Institute
for Local Government (ILG)
137. Innovative Project of the year / OCWD & OC San for GWRSFE / The California
Special Districts Association (CSDA)
138. Outstanding Capital Project Award / GWRSFE / California Association of
Sanitation Agencies (CASA)
139. Utility of the Future Today / OCWD / Water Environment Federation (WEF), the
National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Research
Foundation (WRF), the WateReuse Association, and the U.S. Water Alliance
140. Project Excellence / OCWD, GWRSFE / Water Environment Federation (WEF)
141. Harriett M. Wieder Water Leadership Award / General Manager Mike Markus
/ Southern California Water Coalition’s Annual Dinner and Awards Presentation
142. Recycled Water Agency of the Year, Large / OCWD & OC San for GWRSFE /
WateReuse California
143. Lifetime Achievement Award / General Manager Mike Markus / WateReuse
California
144. Operator of the Year / Derrick Mansell, operations manager for the Groundwater
Replenishment System (GWRS) / SWMOA
145. Plant of the Year / GWRS / SWMOA
146. U.S. Water Prize – Outstanding Public Sector Organization / OCWD & OC San /
U.S. Water
147. Water Project of the Year Pubby Award / GWRS / American Infrastructure
Magazine
148. Outstanding Groundwater Supply Project / GWRS / National Ground Water
Association