April 26, 2012
The American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE) announced the recipients of the 2012 Environmental Communication Award. The Awards Program recognizes organizations and individuals that have made outstanding contributions to water reuse during the preceding year. Highlighting successful projects helps the public and public officials recognize water reuse projects that provide value and benefits to communities and protect public health and the environment.
Last month the AAEE recognized the education and outreach efforts by scwd2 on communicating perspectives on water supply and desalination energy use with the 2012 Environmental Communications Award. The award will be presented at a special National Press Club luncheon in Washington DC on April 26th. Over the last year, scwd2 has been focused on providing the community with up-to-date information on energy needs of the proposed project and we are honored to receive this national award. For more information on AAEE, visit: http://www.aaee.net/ServicetothePublic.php
More about the Project
The City of Santa Cruz Water Department (SCWD) and Soquel Creek Water District (SqCWD) have been collaborating to conserve, protect and create reliable water resources. Both have already implemented numerous stringent conservation and curtailment requirements to maximize efficient water use, but the region needs a reliable supplemental water source that will provide needed supply during droughts and protect groundwater aquifers from seawater intrusion.
After over 20 years of multiple studies and scores of public meetings, SCWD and SqCWD have identified desalination as the best option for delivering this flexible and reliable supplemental water source. To take advantage of the benefits derived from a cooperative facility, SCWD and SqCWD have joined together to address their different needs and share the costs associated with evaluating the proposed project. This program is currently in an Environmental Review process evaluating the potential for a 2.5 million gallon per day desalination facility in Santa Cruz.
The City of Santa Cruz Water Department and Soquel Creek Water District are both clients of Data Instincts, Public Outreach Consultants and Kennedy Jenks Consultants. Both collaborated on this assignment.
About the American Academy of Environmental Engineers.
Founded in 1955, the American Academy of Environmental Engineers has been certifying licensed environmental engineers (formerly “Diplomates” or DEE) through the Board Certified Environmental Engineer (BCEE) program. In 2006, the Academy approved certification of non-licensed environmental engineers through the Board Certified Environmental Engineering Member (BCEEM) program. Both the BCEE and BCEEM are accredited through the Council of Engineering & Scientific Specialty Boards. AAEE is the lead agency for ABET accrediting environmental engineering programs at colleges and universities worldwide. AAEE assists the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying in environmental engineering P.E. and EIT examinations.
For more information on the scwd2 Desalination Program please contact:
Melanie Mow Schumacher, Public Outreach Coordinator
Soquel Creek Water District
5180 Soquel Drive Soquel, CA 95073
Telephone: (831) 475-8501 x 153
Email:
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