Arlington Water Utilities brought home two statewide awards from the recent 2023 Texas Water conference in Houston. Texas Water is the largest regional water conference in the U.S. It is sponsored by the Texas American Water Works Association (Texas AWWA) and the Water Environment Association of Texas (WEAT).

At the conference, Arlington Water Utilities was awarded this year's WEAT Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award in the organization category for “extraordinary contributions to DEI initiatives in the water sector of Texas and specifically the Water Environment Association of Texas.” The award nomination highlighted the department’s efforts to provide equitable access to opportunities in the water industry. That work includes an internship initiative that addresses the workforce development needs of young people aging out of the foster care program and adults from traditionally underrepresented groups. The internship program is in partnership with ACH Child and Family Services and Workforce Solutions of Tarrant County.

Arlington Water also received the Texas AWWA Water Conservation and Reuse Award in the Large Utility-Indirect category. The award recognized the Lake Arlington Native Plant and Pollinator Garden, a demonstration garden and outreach project that the water department kicked off in 2022 in cooperation with Tarrant Regional Water District. The 3-acre site is on the City’s emergency spillway near the Lake Arlington Dam. More than 100 volunteers have taken part in activities at the site in the past year.

To find out more about the Lake Arlington Native Plant and Pollinator Garden, please visit SaveArlingtonWater.com. Visit ArlingtonTX.gov/water to learn more about Arlington Water Utilities.