For a third time, the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (Regional San) has been recognized as a Utility of the Future Today by a partnership of water sector organizations.
The Utility of the Future Today Recognition Program was launched in 2016 by a partnership of water sector organizations, including the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, the Water Environment Federation, the Water Research Foundation, and the WateReuse Association. Input was also provided from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The goal of the program is to guide utilities of all sizes toward smarter, more efficient operations and resource recovery.
The program applauds the achievements of utilities that focus on resource recovery such as energy, nutrients, and recycled water; community partnering; and leadership in social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Applications for the program are reviewed by a selection committee consisting of peer utility general managers and executives. Since its inception, the program has honored 228 utilities from across the U.S. and in Australia, Canada, Denmark, and New Zealand.
Along with 34 other utilities worldwide, Regional San was acknowledged as a utility that is recovering resources from wastewater, engaging communities, forming unique partnerships, and building an internal culture of innovation. The honorees will be recognized at a ceremony during WEFTEC 2022 in New Orleans on Tuesday, Oct. 11.
“At Regional San, we’re committed to incorporating sustainable principles and effective resource management into our daily business practices,” said Christoph Dobson, Regional San’s general manager. “We’re honored to be recognized once again as a Utility of the Future Today, which speaks to how we’re supporting the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of the communities we’re privileged to serve.”
Regional San’s landmark recycled water program—Harvest Water—demonstrates environmental stewardship by increasing the use of recycled water in the Sacramento region of California. Harvest Water will be one of the largest water recycling projects in California and will deliver up to 16.2 billion gallons per year of recycled water to an estimated 16,000 acres of farm and habitat lands in southern Sacramento County. The program will also increase groundwater levels and groundwater storage capacity, support habitat improvement efforts, and advance regional water sustainability.
