-V .-V :• - . -•.% ¦> - • ':"• -I ^ ¦'•>. m s jx,. _v ------- AQUARIUS 2020 Nomination Form Program Description The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) is a $41 billion federal-state partnership dedicated to protecting America's public health. The program finances the construction and rehabilitation of critical drinking water infrastructure, along with public health-focused programs and activities across our nation. The DWSRF AQUARIUS program nationally recognizes DWSRF- funded projects for exceptional focus on five main areas. These projects are examples of the high level of innovation possible with the DWSRF. Nomination Process States may nominate one project by sending the nomination form to their EPA Regional Office Coordinator. After review from the EPA Regional Office, the Region will send nominations to EPA Headquarters (HQ). A panel at EPA HQ will review and rank submitted projects. Of the projects nominated, the panel will select one project for each of five categories to be designated as "Exceptional Projects". EPA plans to announce the "Exceptional Projects" at the Fall 2020 CIFA SRF Workshop. The materials will also be shared with all EPA Regional Offices to highlight excellent projects in their Region and across the country. 2020 AQUARIUS Program Timeline April 2020 June 1 July 3 November 16 2020 AQUARIUS Program kickoff and call for nominations. The project nomination form will be available on the EPA DWSRF website. Project nominations from states are due to their respective EPA Regional Office Coordinator. States fill out the attached form to nominate a project. Each state may nominate only one project (that has not been previously nominated). After review, Regions send the nominations to AQUARIUS@epa.gov at EPA HQ. All recognized projects will be showcased in the 2020 AQUARIUS Compendium to be made available online. Five "Exceptional Projects will receive a plaque from the Director of the Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water at the CIFA SRF Workshop. 2 ------- AQUARIUS 2020 Nomination Form AQUARIUS Evaluation Criteria States participating in this voluntary recognition program may nominate one DWSRF project during the 2020 round. All DWSRF projects are eligible for nomination, as long as the project (or a distinct project phase) is complete. The project must meet three criteria to be eligible: Safe Drinking Water Act compliance Financial integrity Public health benefits This year, one "Exceptional Project" will be selected for each of the five categories below: • Excellence in Innovative Financing (e.g. a unique or uncommon funding mechanism was employed; co-financing) • Excellence in System Partnerships ( e.g. projects that involved many stakeholder entities; creation of regional water system) • Excellence in Community Engagement (e.g. local schools or community groups played an integral role in the project design; a project that educates the community) • Excellence in Environmental and Public Health Protection (e.g. project addresses health-based violations; a system returns to compliance) • Excellence in Problem Solving (e.g. unique use of eligibilities to address an issue) Project information submitted in this nomination form will be used to rank each project according to each category's criteria. All other AQUARIUS projects will be considered Honorable Mention Projects, highlighted in the 2020 AQUARIUS Compendium, and receive a certificate signed by the OGWDW Office Director. ------- AQUARIUS 2020 Nomination Form Contact Information DWSRF State Program: DWSRF Point-of-Contact: Email Address: Project Information Project Name: Assistance Recipient: Location (city, state): DWSRF Funding Amount (include any additional subsidy): Any Co-funding (e.g. USDA, CDBG, etc.)? Please include co-funding source name: Date of Construction Completion (NOTE—project must be complete): Project Description (no more than 100 words): Why was the project necessary (no more than 200 words)? (Describe the existing conditions that prompted the need for the project. If this project was proactive, what prompted that decision? If there were violations, from what regulations and for how long?): 4 ------- AQUARIUS 2020 Nomination Form Project Information, continued Which of the five categories (excellence in innovative financing, system partnerships, community engagement, environmental and public health protection, and/or problem solving) best describes this project? Please provide rationale for the categories selected. You may select up to three. Who was impacted? (e.g. How many people? Children? Disadvantaged community? Hospital or other critical infrastructure? Neighborhood with frequent water main breaks?): What are the outcomes and/or next steps? Please include 1-2 high resolution photos* with submission. Please submit photos relevant to the project that showcase as much of the project as possible. These may be used online or in other publications. "NOTE: by submitting photo(s) with this nomination form, you agree to waive compensation and authorize the photo (s) to be used for informational, education, and/or public relations purposed both within the U.S. EPA and by the general public. You authorize disclosure and release ofthephoto(s) to the U.S. EPA. If you have additional questions about the AQUARIUS Recognition Program, please contact AQUARIUS@epa.gov. 5 ------- |