Austin Water Recognized as Industry Leader with Two National Awards – AustinTexas.gov

Report on Austin Water’s 2025 National Awards and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

In 2025, Austin Water received two national awards recognizing its leadership in regulatory compliance and sustainable utility management. These accolades from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) underscore the utility’s significant contributions to achieving key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

National Awards and SDG Correlation

Austin Water was honored with the following awards for its operational excellence and commitment to sustainability:

1. 2025 Platinum Peak Performance Award (NACWA)
2. Sustainable Water Utility Management Award (AMWA)

Detailed Analysis of Achievements

Platinum Peak Performance Award: Advancing SDG 6 and SDG 14

The NACWA Platinum Peak Performance Award was granted to the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant for achieving five consecutive years of 100% compliance with its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. This achievement directly supports:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: By consistently meeting and exceeding stringent effluent standards, Austin Water contributes to Target 6.3, which aims to improve water quality by reducing pollution and eliminating the dumping of hazardous materials.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: Perfect compliance ensures that water returned to the Colorado River is safe, protecting and preserving aquatic ecosystems from pollution.

Sustainable Water Utility Management Award: Supporting SDG 6, SDG 11, and SDG 12

The AMWA Sustainable Water Utility Management Award recognizes Austin Water’s holistic approach to efficient and environmentally sound operations. This aligns with several SDGs:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The award acknowledges the utility’s effective management in providing safe and clean drinking water to over one million people.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: By ensuring reliable and sustainable water services, Austin Water provides a critical component of resilient urban infrastructure, essential for a sustainable community.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The utility’s focus on efficient resource management is a core principle of sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Operational Practices and SDG Contributions

Austin Water’s commitment to the SDGs is demonstrated through its specific water management programs:

• Water Reclamation (Go Purple Program): This program provides treated reclaimed water for non-potable uses such as irrigation. This practice is a direct contribution to SDG 12 by promoting the efficient use of natural resources and to SDG 6 by increasing water-use efficiency and reducing stress on freshwater supplies.
• High-Quality Effluent Discharge: Treated water that is not reclaimed is safely returned to the Colorado River, maintaining the waterway’s ecological health and flow. This supports SDG 6 by protecting water-related ecosystems and contributes to the overall health of regional water bodies.

According to Shay Ralls Roalson, Director of Austin Water, this national recognition reflects an “unwavering commitment to providing Austinites with sustainable and reliable services today, tomorrow, and for the next 100 years,” a vision that is fundamentally aligned with the long-term objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire text focuses on Austin Water’s achievements in providing clean drinking water, managing wastewater effectively, and implementing sustainable water practices. The awards received are for excellence in clean water utility operations and sustainable water management, which are the core themes of SDG 6.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   The article discusses the provision of essential services (water and sanitation) to a large urban population (“over 1 million people in the Austin metropolitan area”). Effective wastewater treatment and sustainable water management, as described, are critical components of reducing the environmental impact of a city and making it more sustainable and resilient, directly aligning with the goals of SDG 11.

3. SDG 14: Life Below Water & SDG 15: Life on Land

   While less direct, these goals are relevant. The article mentions that treated water is “safely returned to the Colorado River to help maintain the flow and ecological health of the waterway.” This action directly contributes to the protection and health of freshwater ecosystems (part of SDG 15) and prevents pollution from reaching larger bodies of water downstream (relevant to SDG 14).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.

  The article highlights Austin Water’s role in providing “safe, reliable, high-quality, sustainable and affordable water services” to its community. The AMWA Sustainable Water Utility Management Award specifically recognizes the “efficient management of providing safe, clean drinking water,” which directly supports this target.

• Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution… halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse.

  This target is strongly supported by the article. The Platinum Peak Performance Award was given for achieving “100% compliance for five consecutive years with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits.” This demonstrates a commitment to eliminating pollution from wastewater. Furthermore, the “Go Purple program provides cleaned and processed reclaimed water for non-drinking uses,” which is a direct example of water recycling and reuse.

• Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including… rivers.

  The article explicitly states that when reclaimed water is not reused, “the treated water is safely returned to the Colorado River to help maintain the flow and ecological health of the waterway.” This practice is a direct action aimed at protecting a specific water-related ecosystem, the Colorado River.

• Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to… municipal and other waste management.

  Wastewater is a significant component of a city’s waste stream. By achieving 100% compliance with treatment standards and reusing water, Austin Water is actively reducing the city’s overall environmental footprint and demonstrating excellence in municipal waste management, which is central to this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 6.3: 100% Compliance with NPDES Permits

  The article explicitly states that the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant achieved “100% compliance for five consecutive years with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits.” This is a direct, quantifiable indicator of the proportion of wastewater being safely treated (related to official indicator 6.3.1) and the utility’s success in reducing water pollution.

• Indicator for Target 6.3: Implementation of a Water Reuse Program

  The mention of “Austin’s Go Purple program” which “provides cleaned and processed reclaimed water for non-drinking uses like irrigation and cooling” serves as a qualitative indicator. It demonstrates that a system for water recycling and reuse is in place and operational, contributing to the goal of substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse.

• Indicator for Target 6.6: Practice of Returning Treated Water to Maintain River Health

  The description of how “treated water is safely returned to the Colorado River to help maintain the flow and ecological health of the waterway” is an indicator of actions being taken to protect and sustain water-related ecosystems. It shows a management practice that goes beyond simple discharge to consider the ecological impact.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: austintexas.gov