Eligible applicants include:

• Local Governments
• Businesses & Industry
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Universities and Educational Institutions
• Utility Districts

Projects in Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Harris, Galveston, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, and Wharton counties are eligible for recognition. Joint applications for larger, collaborative projects are encouraged. Winning projects must exhibit efficiency, effectiveness, and innovation and serve as models to improve surface water quality.

The WISE Awards honor projects in four categories.

Planning and Policy

The Planning and Policy category honors projects with potential to improve water quality through collaborative and strategic planning and policy creation.

Projects should highlight how entities effectively:

• utilized planning tools,
• authored plans, or
• implemented policy, such as ordinances.

Winning submissions will outline the process through which the project was developed and, if applicable, implemented.

Education and Public Awareness

The Education and Public Awareness category honors projects with potential to improve water quality through public and stakeholder engagement.

Projects should bring to light how everyday activities:

• impact water quality,
• create a sense of personal investment, and
• spur positive behavioral changes.

Winning submissions will detail innovative, successful engagement activities and will include metrics demonstrating how success was measured.

Built Project (Greater than $500K)

The Built Project (greater than $500k) category honors projects contributing positively toward improving water quality through built / installed infrastructure.

Projects include, but are not limited to:

• repair, maintenance or installation of new wastewater treatment facilities,
• repair, maintenance or installation of new on-site sewage systems, and
• installation of wetland detention basins, riparian buffers, low impact development / green infrastructure projects, or other vegetative areas with a water quality benefit.

Winning submissions will identify how new or existing technologies were successfully incorporated into project infrastructure.

Built Project (Less than $500K)

The Built Project (less than $500k) category honors projects contributing positively toward improving water quality through built / installed infrastructure.

Projects include, but are not limited to:

• repair, maintenance or installation of new wastewater treatment facilities,
• repair, maintenance or installation of new on-site sewage systems, and
• installation of wetland detention basins, riparian buffers, low impact development / green infrastructure projects, or other vegetative areas with a water quality benefit.

Winning submissions will identify how new or existing technologies were successfully incorporated into project infrastructure.