At WEFTEC 2025, leadership and innovation in the water sector took center stage during the Utility Leaders Afternoon & Awards Ceremony. The program brought together executives and senior managers for dialogue on the most pressing issues facing utilities today and culminated in the recognition of the 2025 Utility of the Future Today honorees.
Through panels and peer-to-peer exchange, participants explored topics such as workforce transformation, climate resilience, equity in service delivery, organizational culture, and digital innovation. The discussions emphasized that strong leadership, collaboration, and a willingness to innovate are essential to shaping the utilities of tomorrow.
The event concluded with the Utility of the Future Today Awards Ceremony, celebrating utilities that exemplify sustainable transformation, resource recovery, watershed stewardship, and community engagement.
2025 Honorees:
- Alexandria Renew Enterprises (VA)
- Baguio Water District (Philippines)
- Bonita Springs Utilities, Inc. (FL)
- Broward County Water & Wastewater – North Regional WWTP (FL)
- Central Arkansas Water (AR)
- Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (CA)
- Charlotte Water (NC)
- City of Beverly Hills (CA)
- City of Columbus, Dept. of Public Utilities, Division of Sewerage & Drainage (OH)
- City of Henderson, Department of Utility Services (NV)
- City of Pompano Beach Utilities Department (FL)
- City of Redding Wastewater Utility (CA)City of St. Cloud Public Utilities (MN)
- City of Surprise (AZ)
- City of Tucson (AZ)
- Clean Water Services (OR)
- Dallas Water Utilities (TX)
- Dublin San Ramon Services District (CA)
- East Valley Water District (CA)
- Easton Utilities (MD)
- El Paso Water (TX)
- Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District (CA)
- Fort Pierce Utilities Authority (FL)
- Henrico Water – Department of Public Works (VA)
- Holland Board of Public Works (MI)
- Inland Empire Utilities Agency (CA)
- Knoxville Utilities Board (TN)
- LOTT Clean Water Alliance (WA)
- Loudoun Water (VA)
- Magnolia Water (LA)
- Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (OR)
- Monterey One Water (CA)
- North Davis Sewer District (UT)
- Pittsburgh Water (PA)
- Region of Peel Water & Wastewater (ON, Canada)
- Sacramento Area Sewer District (CA)
- Trinity River Authority of Texas (TX)
- Toho Water (FL)
- Town of Jupiter Utilities (FL)
- Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority (CA)
- Village of Wellington (FL)
Looking Ahead
The Utility Leaders Afternoon & Awards Ceremony underscored the essential role of leadership, collaboration, and innovation in advancing the profession. By combining thoughtful dialogue with recognition of exemplary utilities, WEFTEC 2025 highlighted how today’s leaders are shaping a sustainable, resilient, and community-focused future for the sector.