The Water Environment Federation recently recognized 16 U.S. communities for excellence in municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) program management and innovation as part of the 2021 National Municipal Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Awards program.

“Stormwater management is one of the most dynamic segments of the water profession,” says WEF President Lynn Broaddus. “This year's MS4 Award winners demonstrate that they keep up with the ever-changing landscape of regulations, technologies and best practices, lead the way on trends, and set an example for stormwater programs around the world."

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency separates MS4s into two classifications based on the population of the communities they serve. MS4 Awards are distributed according to these classifications: Phase I, which encompasses cities with more than 100,000 customers; and Phase II, which encompasses smaller storm sewer systems, including public universities, departments of transportation, hospitals, and prisons in addition to small or mid-sized municipalities.

The winners of the 2021 MS4 Awards are:

• Phase I Overall Winner: Anne Arundel County Bureau of Watershed Protection & Restoration, Maryland
• Phase II Overall Winner: Capitol Region Watershed District, Minnesota
• Phase I Program Management Winner: City and County of Honolulu MS4 Program, Hawaii
• Phase II Program Management Winner: Central Massachusetts Regional Stormwater Coalition
• Phase I Innovation Winner: Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources, Georgia
• Phase II Innovation Winner: City of Alexandria, Virginia