Arizona recently scored several successes by gaining national and even international recognition for developments in water and environmental affairs. One bright spot was the Arizona Department of Water Resources? winning the Environmental Protection Agency?s WaterSense State Challenge. This was a competition among 20 states to encourage local providers to join EPA?s WaterSense Program.
EPA launched WaterSense in 2006 as a water-efficient product labeling program based on its Energy Star program. Products and services that perform at least 20 percent more efficiently than their less efficient counterparts would be eligible for a WaterSense label.
Another notable development is Steve Owens, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality director, taking on a national role as the newly elected president of the Environmental Council of the States. ECOS is the national association of directors of state environmental protection agencies throughout the United States.
Owens noted in an ADEQ press release that as ECOS president he will be in an advantageous position to advocate for Arizona's interests at the national level. ?I've always worked hard to make sure that Arizona's voice is heard in Washington and nationally," Owens said. "Being ECOS President will give me even more opportunities to advocate for Arizona's interests.?
ASU earned international accolades when its Decision Center for a Desert City shared the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water, a highly regarded honor in the international world of water. The $133,000 award will be split between ASU and a second recipient.
Sponsored by the Prince Sultan Research Center for Environment, Water and Desert at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, the prize primarily supports research in arid regions. DCDC was awarded for its work guiding decisonmakers facing water uncertainties. Its WaterSim project was noted which is a simulation of water supply and demand for the Phoenix Metropolitan area that integrates information about climate, land use, population growth and water policy.