A Colorado city, a Colorado water provider, and a veteran green industry company were among those recognized at the annual WaterSense awards. City of Aspen and Northern Water Conservancy District were named Partners of the Year, and Toro Company was honored for Excellence in Outreach and Training. The award winners were announced October 7 during a WaterSmart Innovations webinar held in lieu of the cancelled conference.  

City of Aspen won its first WaterSense Professional Certifying Organization Partner of the Year Award for its work with the Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) certification program. WaterSense chose the city for the award due to efforts “to actively promote and encourage participation in this WaterSense labeled certification program, to provide valuable continuing education for landscape professionals and to inform the public about water-efficient landscaping.”

Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District also earned its first Partner of the Year Award by collaborating with a number of organizations to promote water efficiency, including the 33 cities it serves. Northern Water's well-attended, annual conservation fair, its Collaborative Water-Efficient Landscape Grant Program, and its educational collaborations and offerings were among the efforts lauded by WaterSense. 

The Toro Company was a repeat winner of the Excellence in Outreach and Training Award. In 2019, Toro has continued to promote WaterSense and water efficiency with its presence at 35 home expos and trade shows; training sessions featuring water management trends, share best practices, demonstrate WaterSense labeled irrigation products, and provide hands-on product experience; sponsorship of Irrigation Association scholarships to professional irrigation students; and its weekly WaterZone radio program focused on outdoor water efficiency best practices and products.

Read more in this issue of Colorado Green NOW:
Coloradans asked to participate in COVID-19 exposure notification app
Colorado shines at NALP Awards of Excellence 2020
Exam prep available for Commercial Pesticide Applicator exam
Questions answered regarding enforcement of new sprinkler head law