Our dedicated and knowledgeable staff has helped establish Charleston Water System as a best-in-class utility.  We are proud of the numerous awards we have received recognizing everything from the quality of our water and wastewater treatment services to our outstanding employee safety record! 

Charleston Water System Receives the Silver Achiever Award from the SC Governor's Quality Forum
The Silver Achiever Award recognizes organizations that have made significant progress toward implementing the national Malcolm Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence. The SC Governor's Quality Forum is a volunteer effort to promote quality in South Carolina. Learn more about the Quality Forum

Charleston Water System CEO Kin Hill (right) accepts the Silver Achiever Award from State Senator Vincent Sheheen at the SC Quality Forum's annual conference on October 21, 2009.

Charleston Water System associates receiving the Silver Achiever Award at the SC Quality Forum Conference. From left to right, Baker Mordecai, Rick Bickerstaff, State Sen. Vincent Sheheen (award presenter), Jim Meeks, Kin Hill, Jenny Hagan, and Andy Fairey.

ISO 14001 Certification, 1999 - present

In 1999, Charleston Water System became the first public water and wastewater utility in the nation to earn certification under ISO 14001, the standard for environmental management.  Click here to learn more about our certification and Environmental Management System (EMS).

National Environmental Achievement Award, NACWA, 2009
Our Wastewater Collection Department received this award for it's Infiltration/Inflow Reduction Project, which involved systematically finding and eliminating sources of entry of rainwater and groundwater into the West Ashley sewer system, which takes up needed capacity in wastewater pipes and can cause sewer overflows during heavy rain events. As a result of the I/I Reduction Project, Charleston Water System saw a 100% reduction in wet weather sewer overflows over a three-year period.

Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, GFOA

Charleston Water has received this award, sponsored by the Government Finance Officer's Association (GFOA), for the last 20 years for our Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs).  Click here to learn more about the award and download financial reports.

South Carolina Environmental Excellence Program (SCEEP) Award
The SCEEP is a voluntary initiative designed to recognize and reward South Carolina facilities that have demonstrated superior environmental performance through pollution prevention, energy and resource conservation, and the use of an environmental management system.  Charleston Water was accepted as a member of the program in 2004 based on our Environmental Management System (EMS) and commitment to continually improving the environment.  The SCEEP program is administered by the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).

Director's Award, Partnership for Safe Water, 2008 and 2004

Charleston Water System is proud to a part of the Partnership for Safe Water Program, which requires members to improve operations beyond regulatory requirements.  The program has five levels of achievement, and the Director's Award recognizes completion of the fourth phase of the program, which only a handful of utilities in the nation have achieved.  Click here to learn more about the Partnership.

Excellence Award, Area Wide Optimization Program (AWOP), 2008 & 2004

The AWOP program, sponsored by SCDHEC, recognizes water utilities for optimizing water treatment beyond what's required by regulations, specifically particle removal and disinfection.  Click here to learn more about AWOP.

Gold & Silver Peak Performance Awards, NACWA, 2008
Presented by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, these awards were presented to our Plum Island and Daniel Island Wastewater Treatment Plants, respectively, for excellence in meeting permit requirements.

Palmetto Award, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), 2008
Charleston Water System received this award for engineering work on a 40-inch directionally drilled water line from North Charleston to East Cooper.

Award of Merit, SC State Historical Records Advisory Board, 2008
Charleston Water System has a rich history, and our efforts to preserve historical documents and provide access to these earned us the this award. Click here to see the award description on the SC State Historical Records Advisory Board's web site.

AMWA National Gold Award, 2005

Charleston Water System is one of seven water utilities in the nation to receive the National Gold Award from the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), a prestigious award recognizing competitiveness in the utility business.

 

EPA Region IV Safe Drinking Water Act Excellence Award, 2005
The EPA presents this prestigious award annually to three utilities in Region IV (the southeastern US) in the categories of small, medium, and large water systems. The award is based on regulatory compliance, operation and maintenance excellence, customer service, and management. 

Charleston Water System received the 2005 Excellence Award in the Large Surface Water System category.  Charleston Water received the same award in 2000.

Certificate of Safety Achievement, 2005
In 2005, Charleston Water System earned this prestigious award for the third time in eight years.  The SC Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, issues the award recognizing one million hours worked without a lost time injury or illness. That translates into sixteen months with no injury or illness among all of Charleston Water's 420 associates. In March 2005, our safety program received the Commendation of Excellence Award from the SC Chamber of Commerce for no lost time injuries in 2004.

NACWA Excellence in Management Award, 2004

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies, formerly the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA), presented Charleston Water with the Excellence in Management Award in 2004.  Charleston Water was one of 38 wastewater utilities nationwide to receive the award, which recognizes utilities that have successfully implemented progressive management initiatives to address the wide range of challenges facing the industry, including pollution prevention, system capacity and reliability, operations and maintenance, and leveraging technology.

Trident United Way Family Friendly Workplace Award, 2004

Charleston Water was honored by the Trident United Way for offering family friendly policies and services to our associates.

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