Published on October 8, 2025
EL PASO – EPWater earned national recognition as a Utility of the Future Today, receiving the award during the Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) on Tuesday, Sept. 30 in Chicago.
The award celebrates forward-thinking utilities that demonstrate innovation, sustainability, and exemplary leadership in water resource recovery. El Paso Water was recognized for its demonstration and continued commitment in energy efficiency. In partnership with Suez in North America, the utility implemented advanced optimization software to help support energy-conscious operations in delivering the same volume of water with less energy use.
“This recognition highlights the dedication of our entire team to building a resilient, sustainable and energy efficient water future for our region,” said Gilbert Trejo, EPWater Vice President of Operations and Technical Services. “We’re proud to be among the utilities setting a national example for excellence and innovation.”
Suez, a global company, focuses on water and waste management using data and artificial intelligence. Suez created a platform to continuously analyze data from across the EPWater water distribution system, including tank levels, demand patterns, and energy pricing, to recommend efficient operating scenarios. The technology provides a holistic pump and valve schedule every 30 minutes to help optimize wells and the water distribution system all in real time.
The software was first implemented in 2012 and has resulted in EPWater reducing ongoing annual energy costs by 10 percent and improving pump efficiency by six percent, saving the utility an estimated $1 million annually.
“Integration of this technology marks a major step forward in EPWater’s evolution as a data-driven, forward-thinking utility,” said Emma Weisbord, Managing Director of the Digital Solutions entity of SUEZ in North America
The Utility of the Future Today Recognition Program is a joint initiative of the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Research Foundation (WRF), and the WateReuse Association, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).