Award of Merit — Application Deadline July 1 of each year. The Award of Merit may be bestowed annually upon an individual who has been a member of the association for a minimum of the past 5 years and who has demonstrated, in the opinion of the Award of Merit Committee, the highest level of outstanding services to NEWWA, a water utility, the water works practice, or any combination thereof.

David M. Erickson Groundwater Award — Application Deadline July 1 of each year. The purpose of the David M. Erickson Groundwater Award is to recognize an individual NEWWA member, current or retired, who has demonstrated excellence in the    field of groundwater science as it relates to groundwater supply development, management, and protection.

Dexter Brackett Memorial Award — Committee-selected recipient. No nomination form.
The Dexter Brackett Award was established in 1916 in honor of an early prominent member of NEWWA. The award is presented annually to the member of the association who authored the most meritorious paper published in the Journal of the New England Water Works Association during the previous year.

Distinguished Public Involvement Award — Application Deadline July 1 of each year.  To recognize individuals or organizations who have significantly contributed in one of the following areas: created or expanded a public education or information program about drinking water; developed public policy to conserve, nurture, protect, or improve public drinking water supplies; or made a significant effort to share programs as described.

Employer Recognition for Younger Member Support Award — Application Deadline July 1 of each year.  To recognize an employer who has made a significant effort in supporting and promoting younger member involvement (a member who is under the age of 35 or new to the water works profession) through active participation in NEWWA programs, committees, and/or presentations.

​Exemplary Source Water Protection Award — Application Deadline July 1 of each year.  This award recognizes utilities who go above and beyond with their source water protection efforts and who demonstrate a true dedication to protecting their system's source water(s).

George C. Whipple Public Health Laboratory Award of Excellence — Application Deadline August 31 of each year.  The purpose of the George C. Whipple Award is to identify and acknowledge those drinking water testing laboratories that have demonstrated an exemplary dedication to providing services consistent with the accomplishments of the above-named analyst that pioneered methods for the protection of waterborne contamination and the assurance of proper public health in his community and beyond.

George Warren Fuller Award — Application Deadline July 1 of each year.  The George Warren Fuller Award is the most prestigious of all NEWWA awards and is presented annually to a member or members for their distinguished service in the water supply field in commemoration of the sound engineering skill, the brilliant diplomatic talent, and the constructive leadership that characterized the life of George Warren Fuller - one of America's most eminent engineers. Full details on the award are available at on the AWWA website.

Historical Landmark Award — Application Deadline Ongoing.  To recognize and preserve a landmark at least 50 years old that has had a direct and significant relationship with water supply, treatment, distribution, or technical development.

Jerome J. Healey Award — Application Deadline July 1 of each year. The Jerome J. Healey Award (established in 2012) is presented to acknowledge the contributions of an individual or a group of individuals, who have promoted the drinking water profession by reaching out to other NEWWA members and the public and enhanced the relationship between the regulated community with state and federal personnel to protect water supply and public health.

John H. Chafee Distinguished Public Servant Award — Application Deadline July 1 of each year.  To recognize individual(s) or agency(ies) that demonstrate clear leadership that embodies commitment to principles and pursues what is right while championing the causes of the environment and public health. The recipient places the country and our society before all and diligently works to find middle ground in order that the public's good will be served.

Kenneth O. Hodgson Distinguished Public Servant Award — Application Deadline July 1 of each year.  To provide recognition for outstanding service to NEWWA and the waterworks profession by a member from the supplier service, manufacturing, or contracting area. The award is named after Kenneth O. Hodgson who demonstrated, through his years as a NEWWA member, a dedication, service, and commitment that our service members should strive to attain.

Legislator of the Year Award — Application Deadline July 1 of each year.  Presented to a member(s) of the U.S. Congress or a state legislative body who has substantially assisted in the promotion of legislation or the advancement of policy that protects public health and the environment while ensuring safe drinking water.  The legislator may have worked with water works professionals to introduce or support legislation or amendments that advance safe drinking water priorities.

Lifetime Achievement Award — Application Deadline July 1 of each year.  The Lifetime Achievement Award is a very prestigious award presented to drinking water professionals who, during their lifetimes, have exhibited outstanding commitment and dedication to the field of water and through membership in the water works profession. Click on the award header for full details and requirements.

Most Innovative Program Award — Application Deadline July 1 of each year.  This award recognizes utilities, consultants, vendors, or individuals, or a partnership within these groups that have developed a program or product resulting in demonstrated economic, operations, conservation, security, public relations, or general efficiency benefits.

NEWWA Honorary Member Award — Application Deadline July 1 of each year.  A NEWWA Honorary Member shall be a person of eminence in some branch of water works practice or water works engineering, or a ​member who has been outstanding in his/her promotion of the welfare of the association or in a profession of water supply.

Operator Meritorious Service Award — Application Deadline July 1 of each year.  This award is sponsored by AWWA and each section. The goal is to recognize special performance by operators of drinking water utilities. The achievements can be in any of the following areas: continuous compliance with public health standards in finished water; consistent and outstanding contribution to plantmaintenance; the development of new and/or modified equipment or significant process modifications to provide for a more efficient oreffectivetreatment; special efforts in the training of treatment plant operators; special acts not directly related to water treatment but that demonstrate dedication to the public beyond normal operating responsibilities; and consistent and outstanding contribution to operation and/or maintenance of distribution lines, pump stations, and reservoirs.

Past Presidents Award — Committee-selected recipient.  No nomination form.
The Past Presidents Award is presented annually in honor of all past presidents to acknowledge in some way their contribution to our association. It is presented to the member or members who authored the second most meritorious paper that appeared in the Journal of the New England Water Works Association during the previous year. 

Public Communications Award — Application Deadline July 1 of each year.  This award acknowledges excellence in communications through comprehensive public outreach materials and programs. Examples include, but are not limited to, flyers, newsletters, bill stuffers, fact sheets, annual reports, water quality reports, Web sites, news releases, public service announcements, paid advertisements, facility tours, open houses, community presentations, video productions, school presentations, poster and essay contests, cable television productions, and any other creative way of communicating with consumers.

Sponsor of the Year Award — Application deadline July 1 of each year.  Recognizes the outstanding effect of associate and consultant members who support the association through contributions of financial, in-kind materials, and volunteer resources.

Utility of the Year Award — Application Deadline July 1 of each year. Recognize up to three utilities (large, medium, and small) that made significant improvements to the water system infrastructure, customer service, staff training, and/or operations to further protect public health of the customers it serves. 

Utility Service Award — Application Deadline July 1 of each year.  This award recognizes up to two utilities annually that made significant contributions to NEWWA via committees, programs, presentations, and/or volunteer service. Consideration shall be given to the size of the utility relative to the contribution.

Volunteer of the Year Award — Application Deadline October 1 of each year.  To recognize a NEWWA member who has demonstrated outstanding service to NEWWA throughout the calendar year or outstanding service to a committee within NEWWA throughout the calendar year that goes above and beyond the expectations of the committee. Current elected NEWWA officers are not eligible.

Water Works State Leadership Award — Application Deadline August 1 of each year.  Presented to a state association member by the NEWWA president to recognize contributions of the recipient to his or her state association and to the water works profession in general. The president and board of directors of each state and regional association within New England are invited to participate. Once each year, the state or regional board will be encouraged to accept nominations from the board or their membership and will select from the nominations one person to receive the award. The nominee/recipient should be a member in good standing with the representative association. Specific criteria may include:  1) Contribution to state or regional association activities; 2) Activities that have achieved public recognition of the excellence of the water works profession; or 3) Innovative ideas or programs that have improved service to customers.