An official website of the United States government.

This is not the current EPA website. To navigate to the current EPA website, please go to www.epa.gov. This website is historical material reflecting the EPA website as it existed on January 19, 2021. This website is no longer updated and links to external websites and some internal pages may not work. More information »

AQUARIUS

The DWSRF AQUARIUS Recognition Program

The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) is a $44 billion federal-state partnership dedicated to protecting America’s public health. The program finances the construction and rehabilitation of critical drinking water infrastructure, along with public health-focused programs and activities across our nation. The DWSRF AQUARIUS program nationally recognizes DWSRF-funded projects for exceptional focus on five main areas. These projects are examples of the high level of innovation possible with the DWSRF.

water plant

States participating in this voluntary recognition program nominated one DWSRF project during the 2020 round. All DWSRF projects were eligible for nomination, as long as the project (or a distinct project phase) is complete. The project must meet three criteria to be eligible:

  • Safe Drinking Water Act compliance
  •  Financial Integrity
  • Public health benefits

This year, one “Exceptional Project” was selected for each of the five categories below:

  • Excellence in Innovative Financing (e.g. a unique or uncommon funding mechanism was employed; co-financing)
  • Excellence in System Partnerships (e.g. projects that involved many stakeholder entities; creation of regional water system)
  • Excellence in Community Engagement (e.g. local schools or community groups played an integral role in the project design; a project that educates the community)
  • Excellence in Environmental and Public Health Protection (e.g. project addresses health-based violations; a system returns to compliance)
  • Excellence in Problem Solving (e.g. unique use of eligibilities to address an issue)

View the 2020 DWSRF AQUARIUS Recognition Program Compendium here.

Map of 2020 AQUARIUS Recognition Projects

The DWSRF AQUARIUS Recognition Program

2020 AQUARIUS Recognition Projects

Recipient

Project Name

Recognition Level

Florence, South Carolina

Timmonsville Drinking Water Improvements and Consolidation

Excellence in Innovative Financing

South Delaware County Regional Water Authority, Oklahoma

Treatment Plant, Booster Pump Stations, Standpipes, and Water Main Improvements

Excellence in System Partnerships

Washington County Service Authority, Virginia

Rattle Creek Road Water Main Extension

Excellence in Community Engagement

Cayuga, Indiana

North Vermillion Community School Corporation Water Main Extension

Excellence in Public Health Protection

Pipestone, Minnesota

Water Treatment Plant Construction

Excellence in Problem Solving

Payson, Arizona

Surface Water Treatment Plant

Honorable Mention

Central Arkansas Water, Arkansas

Central Arkansas Drinking Water Treatment Plant Pumps

Honorable Mention

Norwich Public Utilities, Connecticut

Water Main to Sprague

Honorable Mention

Tidewater Utilities, Inc., Delaware

Holiday Pines Consolidation

Honorable Mention

Orange City, Florida

Water Distribution System Rehabilitation

Honorable Mention

Cairo, Georgia

Arsenic Removal Water Treatment Plant

Honorable Mention

Arrowhead Ranch Public Drinking Water Company, Idaho

Arrowhead Ranch Drinking Water Uranium Treatment

Honorable Mention

Pretty Prairie, Kansas

New Water Treatment Plant

Honorable Mention

Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, and Wells Water District, Maine

Kennebunk River Well Granular Activated Carbon Filtration System

Honorable Mention

Walkersville, Maryland

Walkersville Water Treatment Plant

Honorable Mention

Oakland County, Michigan

Water Main and Residential Water Meter Replacement

Honorable Mention

Borough of Ship Bottom, New Jersey

Ship Bottom Water Main Replacement

Honorable Mention

Trumbull County, Ohio

Braceville/Southington/Farmington Township Water Main Extension

Honorable Mention

Harrisville Fire District, Rhode Island

Oakland Village Area Water System Improvements

Honorable Mention

Erwin, Tennessee

Erwin Water Storage Tank Replacement

Honorable Mention

Melvin, Texas

Radium Removal Project

Honorable Mention

South Burlington, Vermont

Hadley Road Area Drinking Water Improvements

Honorable Mention

College Place, Washington

City of College Place and Christ Community Fellowship Consolidation

Honorable Mention

Lashmeet Public Service District, West Virginia

Matoaka Water Main Extension

Honorable Mention

Bloomington, Wisconsin

Water Main Replacement

Honorable Mention

PREVIOUS YEAR

2019 AQUARIUS Recognition Program