2021 STREAM Awards for Programs and Projects of Excellence

To recognize the achievements of Metro Water District utilities, local governments and authorities, the District created the STREAM Awards for Programs and Projects of Excellence in 2016. The announcement of the 2021 STREAM Awards coincides with the 20-year anniversary celebration of the Metro Water District and will look back on the accomplishments made throughout the region over the past five years.

The 2021 STREAM Awards will celebrate excellence in five areas: our four planning areas of water supply and conservation, wastewater, watershed, and education; plus one resilience award.

The awards will recognize utilities, local governments and authorities in our region that have gone above and beyond the base requirements of the Water Resource Management Plan. Any program or project completed or initiated in the last five years (2017-2021) may be submitted.

Special consideration will be given to submissions that incorporated elements from the Considerations for Enhanced Implementation section within the 2017 Water Resource Management Plan action items. We invite you to share with us how you implemented the enhanced implementation guidance or other above and beyond efforts across the planning areas above. Applications and nominations were due Friday, August 6 and are now closed.

Please consider the criteria below when nominating your program or project. We are looking forward to reading your nominations and thank you for all of the great work you have completed over the years to move our region forward as a recognized leader in water resource management.

Submitted programs and projects will be assessed using the following criteria:

Sustainable: Programs and projects set an example for environmentally sustainable practices, such as conserving energy, investing in renewable energy, conserving water, reducing waste and protecting or restoring the community’s natural resources.
Thoughtful: Programs and projects are thoughtful and are innovative in design and use of techniques for outreach, such as intentional messaging.
Regional: Programs and projects may be local or regional in scale; however, submissions that are regional in scale and show positive impact on the region and downstream neighbors will rank higher.
Engaged: Programs and projects must actively engage the community and its stakeholders. Submissions that can show an ongoing relationship with the community will rank higher.
Applicable: The principles and elements of the submitted program or project should be applicable to other communities. Submissions that can identify communities that have applied principles and elements will rank higher.
Measured: Success of the program or project submitted can be measured. Share the impact this project or program has had within your jurisdiction and beyond.

We are looking forward to reading your applications. Thank you for all the great work you continue to do every day to move our region forward as a recognized leader in water resource management. If you have any questions or issues with the nomination form, contact kwaidhas@atlantaregional.com.

2018 STREAM Award Winners

Congratulations to City of Alpharetta and City of Atlanta, winners of the 2018 STREAM Award for Implementing Best Post-Construction Stormwater Management Practices. Cobb Water’s strategy was proactive and innovative. The staff started planning an implementation strategy long before the declaration was made when they realized conditions were worsening. They also prepared how to implement more difficult measures like pool cover requirements in the event of a Level 3 declaration.

Alpharetta was recognized for developing a stormwater management plan that accommodates new development in a way that also protects water quality. For example, the city requires developments which add 1,000 square feet or more of impervious surfaces to use low-impact measures to prevent run-off from the first inch of rainfall. The city also requires residential developments to set aside funds to build and maintain stormwater management systems.

Atlanta was recognized for being a regional leader in green infrastructure innovation. The city has developed a plan to incorporate “green infrastructure” into all city agencies and public-private projects, such as rain gardens, green roofs, and cisterns that slow or capture stormwater runoff. The city also requires projects which add or replace 500 square feet of impervious surface to reduce stormwater runoff.

We appreciate the efforts of all our local jurisdictions and utilities on implementing effective stormwater management practices.