Water Quality Flag Program Wins National Award

The National Association of Counties (NACo) recognized our Water Quality Flag program with a 2019 Achievement Award in the Children and Youth category at their annual conference in July.

SCARCE partners with DuPage County Stormwater Management to offer the program, which recognizes local institutions who have gone above and beyond in preserving and protecting clean waterways in DuPage County. Following a series of trainings and hands-on activities, DuPage County organizations can earn the flag to display at their establishment.

SCARCE is thrilled to partner with DuPage County Stormwater Management to offer the Water Quality Flag program as a way to both expand water quality education and promote stewardship of our local waterways by organizations big and small.

“What’s so fantastic about this program is that it reaches people of all ages and shows them that there is something that everyone can do to keep our water clean now and in the future,” said Kay McKeen director of SCARCE. “Clean water doesn’t just benefit us but also our local wildlife, supporting a healthy and resilient ecosystem.”

The program is unique to DuPage County which is reflected in the design of the flag itself: the three waves on the flag represent the three main watersheds in DuPage County. Since it’s inception in 2014, SCARCE and DuPage County Stormwater Management have awarded 24 Water Quality Flags to local schools, libraries, park districts and other organizations. Learn more about how your organization can earn a flag here.

NACo presents the Achiecement Awards annually in 18 categories that reflect the vast, comprehensive services that counties provide. Started in 1970, NACo’s annual Achievement Awards program is designed to recognize county government innovations. Each nominee is judged on its own merits and not against other applications received.