Nominations Open for North Florida Green Chamber Water Quality & Resource Awards
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (June 13, 2022) – The North Florida Green Chamber of Commerce (NFGCC), making it cool and convenient to go green, is recognizing August as National Water Quality Month.
To focus on an important natural resource, we usually take for granted, the Green Chamber is accepting nominations for the 2022 Water Quality & Resource Awards. Deadline is July 31.
“Now in their third year, the awards recognize examples of water quality improvement and conservation that best demonstrates significant, lasting, and measurable excellence in water quality improvement or in prevention of water quality degradation in North Florida in four categories,” noted Green Chamber Executive Director Christina Kelcourse, Esq, CFP, CRPC.
The green chamber is a regional networking organization for all sizes of businesses and community organizations including non-profits that emphasize green and sustainable business practices. The award was created in cooperation with St. Johns Riverkeepers, the Florida Green Building Coalition and the St. Johns River Water Management District.
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.
What are you doing to protect and conserve sources of freshwater? Let the Green Chamber know so they can acknowledge you or someone you nominate in recognition of National Water Quality Month. Deadline is July 31. Winners will be announced in August.
Nominate someone today at www.northfloridagreenchamber.org/sustainability/
The North Florida chapter has ongoing networking and educational events and benefits including the Green Marketplace, a Buyers’ Club, Sustainability Coaches, the Solar Collective, job fairs, newsletter as well as sponsorship opportunities, discounts, awards, and a mentoring program.
To learn more email [email protected], call (904) 878-3474 or visit www.NorthFloridaGreenChamber.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Mike Bonts Public Relations
(904) 424-6641