City of Austin

AUSTIN – Austin Water’s industry leadership in utility regulatory compliance and sustainable water management earns two national awards in 2025.

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) awarded Austin Water the prestigious 2025 Platinum Peak Performance Award after the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant achieved 100% compliance for five consecutive years with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) also honored Austin Water this year with the Sustainable Water Utility Management Award, recognizing its commitment to sustainable environmental practices and the efficient management of providing safe, clean drinking water.

“We are deeply honored that the hard work and dedication of Austin Water staff is being nationally recognized by premier organizations like AMWA and NACWA,” Shay Ralls Roalson, director of Austin Water said. “This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to providing Austinites with sustainable and reliable services today, tomorrow, and for the next 100 years.”
 

Each of Austin's wastewater treatment plants produce high-quality treated effluent regulated by discharge permits and reclaimed water quality standards set by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Austin Water consistently exceeds the water quality requirements established by these permits. Austin’s Go Purple program provides cleaned and processed reclaimed water for non-drinking uses like irrigation and cooling. When not reused, the treated water is safely returned to the Colorado River to help maintain the flow and ecological health of the waterway.
 
“NACWA’s Peak Performance Awards honor not only operational excellence, but the vital role clean water utilities play in safeguarding the health of our communities and the environment every single day,” NACWA CEO Adam Krantz said in praise of award recipients.

AMWA’s director of communications and utility management programs, Antoinette Barber, explained a panel of their judges determined Austin Water demonstrates a “strong record of effective utility management and a significant contribution to the drinking water industry.”

This is the second time Austin Water has been recognized by both water industry associations. Austin Water previously received a Golden Peak Performance Award from NACWA and another AMWA Sustainable Water Utility Management Award. NACWA and AMWA are based out of Washington D.C. with water industry association members from across the U.S.

About Austin Water

Austin Water provides safe, reliable, high-quality, sustainable and affordable water services that have met the community’s needs for over 100 years. Austin Water serves over 1 million people in the Austin metropolitan area across more than 548 square miles. For more information about Austin Water, visit www.austinwater.org.