Eight publicly owned electric utilities and water agencies took top honors in the 2026 CMUA Impact Awards for outstanding projects and programs advancing best practices and innovative ideas in the water and power industry, the California Municipal Utilities Association said on Aug. 19.
The first-place winners include projects and programs from Anaheim Public Utilities, Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, Irvine Ranch Water District, Orange County Water District, Placer County Water Agency, Riverside Public Utilities, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, and Turlock Irrigation District.
An independent panel of judges from across the U.S., representing energy and water utilities and related organizations, identified the following award winners:
Innovative Projects and Programs
1st place, Small-size utility category: Orange County Water District: Enhancing Orange County's Water Supply Through FIRO
OCWD is implementing Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) at Prado Dam, using advanced atmospheric river forecasting to capture more local stormwater without compromising flood protection. Developed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the project could eventually benefit as many as 48,000 people annually, add 2 billion gallons of stormwater capture, and save $6 million a year in water supply costs.
1st place, Medium-size utility category: San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District: Santa Ana River Enhanced Recharge Phase 1-B
More than 30 years in the making, this multi-agency project expands stormwater capture and recharge from the Santa Ana River below Seven Oaks Dam. The 600-acre site now includes 20 new recharge basins and a 1.5-mile conveyance channel, more than doubling diversion capacity while restoring more than 200 acres of protected species habitat. Completed 18 months ahead of schedule, the project can capture up to 80,000 acre-feet of stormwater annually, strengthening water reliability for more than 2 million residents.
1st place, Large-size utility category: Anaheim Public Utilities: Anaheim Sustainability Education Center
APU converted an aging, underused building into the Anaheim Sustainability Education Center, an 8,700-square-foot, LEED Silver facility with rooftop solar, a SmartFlower PV system, and hands-on exhibits on energy and water. Funded in part by a $3 million Congressional earmark and a $50,000 American Public Power Association grant, the center offers standards-aligned curriculum and free field trips to all seven Anaheim school districts, plus new workforce programs introducing students to utility trade careers.
Customer Service Excellence
1st place, Medium-size utility category: Irvine Ranch Water District: Sprinkler Repair Program
IRWD's Sprinkler Repair Program splits irrigation repair costs evenly with customers, tackling one of the biggest sources of residential water waste. Since a 2023 marketing push, roughly 900 leaky systems have been repaired, with participants seeing an average 19.5% reduction in water use—as high as 34% among the highest-use customers—for potential savings of up to 45 million gallons.
1st place, Large-size utility category: Turlock Irrigation District: TID Customer Academy
TID's free, five-week Customer Academy gives residents an inside look at district operations, from water delivery to budgeting, through evening sessions and an all-day tour. Now in its fifth year, the program has graduated more than 70 customers, draws more applicants than it can accept, and has turned participants into active advocates for the district.
Communications Achievement
1st place, Small-size utility category: Placer County Water Agency: Headwaters to Hydrants and Homes
Following devastating wildfires across California, PCWA launched a multi-channel campaign to help residents in its fire-prone service area prepare for wildfire risk, combining community events, a Fire & Water magazine feature, a video produced with local fire departments, and a new demonstration garden. More than 30,000 magazine copies were distributed, a community fire forum drew regional TV coverage generating nearly 200,000 impressions, and digital promotion added tens of thousands more views.
1st place, Medium-size utility category: Irvine Ranch Water District: Good Water, Great Neighborhood
IRWD's "Good Water. Great Neighborhood." campaign built trust in tap water through whimsical videos, water quality workshops, and an improved Water Quality Report. The campaign generated more than 5.2 million impressions and a 45% engagement rate, and a post-campaign survey found 79% of customers considered their water "very safe" or "safe," up from 75% in 2023.
1st place, Large-size utility category: Riverside Public Utilities: Education Month Campaign
RPU marked the 30th anniversary of its K-12 education program—which has taught more than 300,000 students since 1995—with a July 2025 Education Month campaign spanning email, social media, billboards, and community events. The campaign reached Riverside's 320,000 residents, including email sends to 75,000-plus subscribers and nearly 61,000 social media impressions in July alone.
Legislative and Regulatory Leadership
1st place: Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District: From Policy to People — EVMWD's Affordability Leadership Initiative
EVMWD expanded its RARE and LIHWAP affordability programs through pop-up enrollment events, bilingual outreach, and legislative advocacy, becoming Riverside County's largest LIHWAP participant and earning the county's 2024 Partner of the Year award. The district delivered nearly $297,000 in direct LIHWAP assistance and more than $1.5 million in RARE bill credits to over 49,500 bills, while also helping defeat legislation that would have undermined local affordability programs.
According to the program guidelines, the judges scored each nominated project in three areas: a) originality and creativity; b) benefits and value to customers and/or the community; and c) overall concept and implementation.
"This year's winners show the depth of innovation and dedication across CMUA's membership," said CMUA Executive Director Danielle Blacet-Hyden. "From cutting-edge projects to communications campaigns that build trust with the communities we serve, these programs reflect the everyday work our members do to deliver reliable, affordable and sustainable service to Californians. Congratulations to all of this year's honorees."
