"The USEPA Clean Water Act Awards recognize municipalities and industries, including Tribal Nations and U.S. military commands for demonstrating outstanding technological achievements or an innovative process, method or device in their waste treatment and pollution abatement programs. The objectives of the program are to educate the public about the contributions that publicly-owned wastewater treatment facilities make to clean water; to encourage public support for municipal and industrial efforts in effective wastewater management, biosolids management, and wet weather pollution control; and to recognize communities that go much beyond the minimum needed to meet Clean Water Act requirements.

Awards are presented for outstanding operations and maintenance (O&M) at publicly-owned wastewater treatment facilities, exemplary biosolids management, pretreatment program excellence, stormwater management excellence, and combined sewer overflow (CSO) control program excellence.