Norridge Public Works awarded ‘gold' standard for water education efforts
The Illinois Section American Water Works Association recognized the village of Norridge with gold status as part of the Naperville-based nonprofit organization's Water Ambassador Program. It was the fourth year in a row Norridge got the honor, and it was awarded at the WaterCon Convention in April.
The Norridge Public Works Department excelled in promoting 'where water comes from, the importance of the repairs and the infrastructure to ensure that (community) water is safe,' said ISAWWA Executive Director Annie Storey, who attended the Village Board meeting. 'The award is all about communicating to your consumers, to your community members.'
While Public Works Department Director Syed Mansoor – who stepped into the role in February – officially accepted the award at the convention, Storey made another presentation of it during the board meeting. The village was given a street sign designating Norridge a 'Water Ambassador Community' and a certificate.
'Being a small community, (the Public Works Department) runs everything from water to street to resident complaints for garbage cans — anything that kind of falls in between,' Mansoor told Pioneer Press after the board meeting. They are 'the backbone of the whole village.'
According to the organization's website, the ISAWWA Water Ambassador Program was established in 2021 and helps educate communities on water and wastewater use. The program was created to 'elevate public perception, knowledge, and consumer education of the water industry.' It operates on four standards 'based on the frequency and method of communication,' including its elected official education, consumer education and conservation efforts.
Mansoor explained that Norridge has two pump houses responsible for carrying the water the village buys from the city of Chicago to the village's customers – residents, businesses and more. After completing upgrades to one pump house last year, he said the village is now looking to work on the other one, which is estimated to cost about $4 million. Renovating the village's storm water lift is also being planned.
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