Palm Beach County's Water Utilities Department was recently recognized with the Association of Municipal Water Agencies' (AMWA) Sustainable Water Utility Management award. The honor was given at the AMWA's Executive Management Conference held in Miami, according to a Palm Beach County Government news release.
The award acknowledges Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department's (PBCWUD) ongoing commitment to excellence, as seen through initiatives such as the internationally-recognized ISO 55001 certification and the avant-garde Green Cay Phase II water reuse project slated for completion by mid-2026. This achievement places PBCWUD among an elite group of just seven utilities nationwide to be so acknowledged. In a statement obtained by the Palm Beach County Government newsroom, County Administrator Verdenia C. Baker expressed the area's pride, “Being one of just seven utilities nationwide to receive this accolade is humbling.”
The AMWA has been championing the interests of publicly-owned drinking water systems for four decades, focusing on various aspects including legislative, regulatory, and management issues. Their awards program holds a peer-review system and offers different levels of recognition: Gold, Platinum, and the Sustainable Utility top award. Palm Beach County's water utility has ascended these ranks since the early 2000s, clinching a Gold in 2001, followed by Platinum recognitions in 2006 and 2012.
Palm Beach County is serviced by PBCWUD, providing water across a sprawling 1,300-square-mile region to over 635,000 residents. According to their announcement, their efforts fuse the necessity of high-quality service with the imperative to protect drinking water resources.
