ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Water Environment Federation (WEF) on September 21 announced the 2021 WEF Awards recipients for individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the sustainability of water resources and made a profound impact on the future of the water profession.

“Long-term resilience for the world’s most crucial resource depends on the expertise of innovative, proactive, and capable water professionals,” said Lynn Broaddus, WEF President. “We are honored to recognize this year’s Individual and Organizational WEF Award recipients for their transformational impacts on the sector.”

The 2021 recipients for Individual Service and Contribution Awards and Organization and Association Recognition Awards include Greek-American Mariyana Spyropoulos who received the Public Officials Award.

The Public Officials Award is presented to an elected or appointed public official who has made a documented, significant contribution in clean water legislation, public policy, government service, or another area of public prominence that resulted in improvements to the water environment. The award can be presented for local, state or federal public service.

Mariyana Spyropoulos, president of Chicago’s Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) from 2015-2019, has championed many environmental policies at MWRD, Including those concerning effluent disinfection, pesticide use, advocacy, and green infrastructure. Commissioner Spyropoulos supported expanding MWRD’s Space to Grow project to the 125 suburbs surrounding the Chicago metropolitan area. She also advocated for the MWRD to sign onto the Paris Climate Accord.

The full list of honorees is available online: shorturl.at/fsPVY.