SOURCE WATER PROTECTION AWARD

Award Overview

The Ohio AWWA Source Water Protection Award recognizes exemplary source water protection programs that demonstrate meaningful, measurable efforts to protect Ohio’s drinking water sources.

This award highlights innovative strategies, collaborative initiatives, emergency response success stories, educational campaigns, and long-term protective actions that strengthen source water protection across the state.

Up to three awards may be presented annually.

Eligibility Criteria

Community Public Water Systems
Collaboratives representing drinking water systems

Anyone may submit an application on behalf of their system or collaborative.

If there is a high volume of applicants, awards may be distributed across population categories:

Small (<10,000 population served)
Medium (10,000–50,000)
Large (>50,000)

Applications may remain under consideration for up to three years.

Systems are eligible to apply each year.

Application Requirements

Complete the online application form, which will include:

System and source water details
A structured description of the source water protection program
Identification of priority contaminant sources and protective strategies
Examples of measurable impact, collaboration, and program evaluation
A detailed narrative highlighting a specific project, challenge, or success
Supporting documentation, photos, or supplemental materials (optional)

Applications should provide clear examples of implemented strategies, demonstrated outcomes, and sustained commitment to source water protection.

Application Period

Nominations must be submitted by April 15.

Presented at the OAWWA Member Appreciation Lunch during the One Water Conference on August 19. Recipients are also recognized in the fall issue of Waterfront and on the OAWWA LinkedIn page.