The North Florida Green Chamber of Commerce is recognizing August as National Water Quality Month.
To focus on an important natural resource, the Green Chamber is accepting nominations for the 2021 Green Chamber Water Quality & Resource Awards. Deadline is July 18.
The awards will recognize examples of water quality improvement and conservation that best demonstrate significant, lasting and measurable excellence in water quality improvement or in prevention of water quality degradation by Green Chamber members and other businesses in North Florida in four categories.
Creative Landscape Award
Successful candidate uses engineering design principals of low impact development to reduce or eliminate flow of stormwater and potential contaminants carried with it from the property to receiving waters or that uses natural systems to manage stormwater and contaminants. Living shorelines, xeriscaping and concepts included in the minimal impact design manual are good examples as well as other efforts to use existing natural landscape or restoring landscape to provide water quality improvement and wildlife habitat.
Conservation and Water Reuse Award
Successful candidate successfully demonstrates sustainability through reduction of consumption and reuse of resources. Examples include water conservation through low flow facilities and water reuse from converting wastewater or stormwater into water that can be reused for other purposes. Types of reuses include urban reuse, agricultural reuse (irrigation), environmental reuse, industrial reuse. Reuse may include irrigation of gardens and agricultural fields. Reused water may also be directed toward fulfilling certain needs in residences (e.g., toilet flushing), businesses and industry. Creative reductions in energy use and resource recycling are included.
Stormwater Management Award
Successful candidate demonstrates creative and beneficial stormwater management activities in their stormwater pollution prevention plans, either on behalf of their own facility or their client’s, by keeping potential contaminants from stormwater exposure at covered industrial sites or optimizing erosion and sedimentation controls at construction sites.
Wetland Protections Award
Candidate demonstrates successful efforts in protecting and enhancing wetlands through project design that avoids impacts to wetlands, including secondary impacts, enhancing wetlands through exotic species removal and hydrologic restoration or other efforts that preserve and expand wetland functions.
The Green Chamber is a regional networking organization for all sizes of businesses and community organizations including nonprofits that emphasize green and sustainable business practices. The award is being created in cooperation with St. Johns Riverkeepers, the Florida Green Building Coalition and the St. Johns River Water Management District.
To submit a nomination, go to www.northfloridagreenchamber.org/sustainability.
