Awards and Achievements

The LOTT Alliance has received national, state, and local awards recognizing the environmental protection commitment and hard work of our dedicated Board of Directors, exceptional management, experienced staff, and the participation of our partner jurisdictions. We are proud to present some of the awards and achievements we have received over the past few years.

Outstanding Achievement in Infrastructure

The LOTT Regional Services Center received the 2010 Outstanding Achievement in Infrastructure in the Building category from the Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council. The environmentally designed building houses a new education center (the WET Science Center), the expanded and remodeled water quality laboratory, and administrative offices at the Budd Inlet Treatment Plant site. The award recognizes the innovative green features of the building, including:

• Use of environmentally sustainable and recycled materials
• Energy efficiency
• Production of heat and energy in the treatment plant's cogeneration unit using methane recovered from the anaerobic digesters
• Use of reclaimed water for pumping fixtures and irrigation
• Creation of the WET Science Center and public education program that fosters public understanding and support of the utility's programs and mission

The award also recognizes the utility's ability to cash finance the entire project through the regular rate structure by accessing low-cost funding for other capital and infrastructure projects.

Public Education and Involvement

LOTT has received a 2010 National Environmental Achievement Award in the Public Education and Involvement category from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies for the new WET Science Center. This award honors agencies for their inventive efforts to educate the public on the effects of wastewater treatment and pollution control on the environment. LOTT developed the WET Science Center exhibits and educational programs to help achieve its mission of cleaning and restoring water resources for our communities. A good public education program paves the way for everything the utility does and is a key part of a comprehensive public communications program. The development effort has involved nearly all of LOTT's staff members, who provided input and ideas for the WET Center and who help implement the program through tours and special events. Click here to learn more about the WET Science Center.

Small Project of the Year Award

LOTT's Hawks Prairie Satellite was chosen for the 2010 WateReuse Project of the Year. This international award, which recognized the significant contribution made by a small project (less than 5 million gallons per day), was a highly competitive process. Selection criteria included reclaimed water quality and uses, treatment plant capacity and flows, public education and outreach, significance and contribution to the community, effective management practices, and operational benefits. This achievement is a reflection on LOTT staff for the hard work of planning, building, and operating a successful reclaimed water project. For more information about the Hawks Prairie Reclaimed Satellite, click here.

Energy Efficiency Leader Award

A new cogeneration system installed at the Budd Inlet Treatment Plant by the LOTT Clean Water Alliance late last year has substantially reduced the amount of energy needed for treatment processes and buildings at the plant by using treatment by-products as fuel. This renewable energy system, combined with an aeration blower retrofit currently underway at the treatment plant, is expected to save LOTT more than $228,000 per year in utility costs. Because of LOTT’s commitment to environmental responsibility and to optimizing the wastewater treatment process, Trane presented the Energy Efficiency Leader Award for sustainable energy and operational efficiency improvements in May 2010.

Design Review Board Award of Merit

This new annual Award of Merit was presented by the City of Olympia Design Review Board on February 24, 2009. The Review Board found that the LOTT Administrative Building and Education Center, designed by Miller-Hull Partnership in Seattle, best exemplified the intent and spirit of Olympia's Design Review Code. The Board stated that "The project embodies positive traits such as having a distinct local connection due to the nature of LOTT, possessing an innovative building design, and making interaction with the public a top priority. The proposed site layout, landscaping, and water feature will make for a very engaging experience for visitors and passersby. This project has the advantage of being part of the East Bay master planning effort to incorporate pedestrian connections." For more information about the Regional Services Center, which was completed in June 2010, click here.

Excellence in Financial Reporting

The LOTT Alliance's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for 2009 was awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition for excellence in state and local government financial reporting. In order to be awarded a Certificate of Achievement, a government must publish an easily readable and efficiently organized comprehensive annual financial report. This report must satisfy both generally accepted accounting principles and applicable legal requirements.

A Certificate of Achievement is valid for a period of one year. We believe that our current comprehensive annual financial report continues to meet the Certificate of Achievement Program's requirements and we are submitting it to the Government Finance Officers Association to determine its eligibility for another certificate.

National Environmental E-Media Award

The National Environmental Achievement Award Program recognizes individuals and member agencies that have outstanding contributions to environmental protection and the clean water community. In 2008, the LOTT Alliance was selected to receive the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) National Environmental Achievement Award for its excellence in Public Information and Education for the redevelopment of LOTT's website. Presentation of the award took place on July 16, 2008, at NACWA's summer conference in Anchorage, Alaska. LOTT submitted a mounted poster, as requested by NACWA, showcasing the redevelopment of the award-winning website. The poster was displayed at the Conference during the President's Reception directly following the Awards Ceremony.

Excellence in Management Award

LOTT was selected to receive the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) 2007 Excellence in Management Award. This program honors agencies that have implemented programs over a three-year period that effectively address issues facing water and wastewater utilities. This achievement recognizes the ongoing hard work performed by LOTT employees throughout the organization and reflects the contribution, innovation, and technical expertise of the entire staff.

"It's truly an honor to receive this kind of high level recognition from our professional peers," said Doug Mah, President of the LOTT Board of Directors. "The LOTT staff, management, and Board of Directors have worked hard over the past few years to ensure this utility operates as efficiently and responsibly as possible."

Like many wastewater utilities, the LOTT Alliance faces management challenges including impending staff retirements, difficulty hiring skilled replacement workers, rapid population growth, an aging infrastructure, increasingly stringent permit limitations, and public perception. To address organizational challenges, LOTT has developed several new programs over the past three years, including a Strategic Business Plan, a recruitment and retention initiative, career development program, apprenticeships, and an asset management program. LOTT’s reclaimed water program, in coordination with the continuing water conservation program, helps restore and preserve water resources and assure ongoing wastewater treatment capacity.

Peak Performance Award

The LOTT Alliance was selected to receive a 2007 Silver Peak Performance Award. The Peak Performance Awards program presented by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) recognizes public wastewater treatment facilities for their excellent compliance record, and outstanding environmental efforts. The Budd Inlet Treatment Plant totaled 3888 Compliance Points in 2007.

Thurston Green Business Award

In 2008, 2009, and 2010, LOTT received the Thurston Green Business award. This award program began in 2008 with the purpose of recognizing local businesses for their environmentally friendly efforts in the areas of green building, waste reduction and recycling, water conservation, energy efficiency, transportation, pollution prevention, and buying and selling green products.

Conservation Award

At their Annual Breakfast on February 6, 2007, the Capitol Land Trust presented LOTT with one of only three Conservation Awards for "exceptional commitment to conservation of Puget Sound's marine nearshore and freshwater habitats." The Award was received in part for LOTT's contribution toward the purchase of a conservation easement to protect Gull Harbor, one of the most pristine estuaries remaining in the southern Puget Sound region.

Green Power Certificate

Also in February of 2007, LOTT received a Green Power Certificate, presented by Puget Sound Energy. The certificate recognizes the LOTT Alliance as an Environmental Leader for purchasing 100% of LOTT's energy requirements in renewable energy. Green Power is electricity generated from renewable, non-polluting resources such as wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, hydrogen/fuel cells, and wave or tidal action. Because Green Power comes from sources that never run out, like the wind and the sun, renewable energy is limitless.

Silver Award in Engineering Excellence

LOTT and Brown and Caldwell were awarded second place in Engineering Excellence by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Washington in 2007. The award was presented in recognition for design of the Hawks Prairie Reclaimed Water Satellite facilities.

WorkWell Wellness Awards

The LOTT Clean Water Alliance received the WorkWell Award as a Gold Level employer. The designation is part of a collaborative program between the Thurston County Chamber and Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department; the program is designed to recognize local employers who make a commitment to address workforce health issues. The program features three levels of designations – Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Designation levels are determined according to the level of organizational support from leadership or senior management, combined with the implementation of modifications or enhancements that positively impacted healthy eating and/or physical activity during the year. LOTT has received WorkWell Awards annually since 2007, and in 2009, received the Happy Heart Award for special achievement in workplace wellness.