PHOENIX, AZ, April 17, 2009 – Global Water Resources (“Global Water”) announced today that it has received a 2009 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Region 9 Environmental Achievement Award in recognition of its work and commitment to protecting the environment. The award was presented on April 16th at the EPA Region 9 office in San Francisco, California. The Award specifically recognizes the Global Water Center – the company’s regional operations facility in the City of Maricopa, for its commitment to water reuse, sustainable design and construction, and for advancing public understanding and acceptance of water reuse through educational programs.
The EPA Environmental Achievement Awards program seeks to recognize those working throughout several western states to protect and preserve the environment. The EPA received over 200 nominations for this year’s program. The 40 winners were selected based on numerous criteria, including ability to address an environmental problem or need; ability of the program to be replicated or widely shared; and long-term benefits for the environment.
“It is a great pleasure and honor that we can recognize the innovative and important environmental work achieved by this year’s impressive group of organizations and individuals, and the example they set for all of us to follow,” said Laura Yoshii, the U.S. EPA's acting administrator for the Pacific Southwest region. “This year's winners and nominees have made superb efforts to protect and preserve our air, water and land, and increased awareness of the environmental challenges we all face.”
The Global Water Center, opened by Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano in May of 2007, is a Silver LEED certified building dedicated to reinforcing the importance of water in our society, and educating the public on all aspects of water conservation. “We designed and built this facility to raise awareness of water issues in the southwestern United States and to share our conservation message with our customers,” stated Trevor Hill, President and CEO, Global Water. “Water recycling is a significant part of our resource conservation strategy in arid high-growth areas. This LEED certified facility provides an excellent means of passing an increasingly important message to the citizens of the community we serve. We recognize that the perceptions associated with water recycling are the final barrier to maximizing the use of this emerging resource. The education that this center provides helps address the public’s questions about achieving water conservation through water reclamation and reuse.”
The building uses recycled water produced at the adjacent water reclamation facility for all toilet and urinal flushing and other non-potable uses. The installation of a dual plumbing system reduces potable water consumption by 83% compared to a conventionally plumbed building. Energy usage is lowered by as much as 30% through high-efficiency engineering and use of natural day lighting. To date, only thirty-three building projects in Arizona have been LEED certified. The center is the first private facility in Pinal County to be LEED certified.
The water resource messaging at the Global Water Center employs multimedia displays, static and interactive models and informational kiosks to highlight the benefits of water recycling. This education component is part of an overall strategy to teach children about the importance of sustainability and water recycling, with the belief that children will take these ideas to their families, and lead the charge toward responsible water use at home.
Global Water owns and operates 16 water and wastewater utilities in the state of Arizona serving more than 60,000 people. The company is committed to managing future water scarcity in the arid southwest by investing in and improving the regulated water and wastewater companies it owns and to conserving Arizona’s precious water resources through water recycling.
For more information, contact:
Paul Walker
Public Relations for Global Water Resources
602-705-4205 www.gwresources.com |
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