The Utility of the Future Today program was founded by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the Water Environment & Reuse Foundation (WE&RF) and the WateReuse Association in 2016. This launch also had input from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The key areas of focus of the Utility of the Future Today concept are to:
- recover and find new uses for a range of resources
- engage as a full water cycle leader with broad social, economic and environmental sustainability within the community
- transform the internal utility culture to support innovation
- form necessary partnerships when operating outside of the traditional span of the utility
Recognition as the ‘Utility of the Future Today’ celebrates the achievements of water utilities that are transformative as a water treatment system to form a resource recovery center and to engage the communities they serve through leadership in sustainability and resilience. This recognition further serves to educate fellow utilities by sharing what they’ve learned to encourage mutual learning and innovation.
Toho Water Authority (Toho)
has received national recognition as a ‘Utility of the Future Today’ for the fifth year in a row for continuously improving its operations, especially with its Reclaimed Water program. Toho is one of thirty-four water utilities being honored for transformational work combating water system challenges through community engagement, resource recovery and watershed stewardship.
Toho will be recognized at the Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) 2022
in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 11.
