The City of Garland Water Utilities Department recently snagged the 2024 Texas American Water Works Association Bob Derrington Reuse Award, a testament to their long-standing water sustainability and innovation efforts. The accolade was presented at the Texas Water Conference in Houston this past March, highlighting Garland's commitment to environmental stewardship.
Garland's partnership with Luminant’s Forney Energy Center, dating back to 1999, has helped to strategically divert roughly 15,680 acre-feet of treated wastewater each year for industrial use. This initiative has allowed the city to both conserve a critical mass of fresh water resources and to substantially cut down on CO2 emissions. According to the City of Garland, this recycled water program contributes enormously to the Texas electrical grid with an output of 1,800 megawatts.
Garland Water Utilities' Managing Director Mike Brinkmann expressed pride in the program's success and recognition, stating, as per the City of Garland, "The Bob Derrington Reuse Award is the industry's recognition that Garland Water Utilities has shown outstanding achievement in developing and advancing water reuse initiatives." He emphasized the city's leading role in conserving and managing water resources, not just for its populace but for the broader North Texas region.
