Winning Websites: phillystormwater.org and phillyhistory.org

Image: phillystormwater.org

It is, apparently, awards season on the Internet: Two PWD-related websites have taken home honors for excellence. Last week, URISA named phillystormwater.org the 2011 winner of the Exemplary Systems in Government award:

"This solution was deemed exemplary by the ESIG Review Committee because it is an application that has benefited all stakeholders, including both the Philadelphia Water Department staff and the public alike. The System is an application in green stormwater management that uses GIS to assess impervious site areas. It gives the public easy access to—and transparency to—stormwater charges, and the ability to see the effect on their bills should property owners consider greener strategies. Processes have also been developed to address the data quality and consistency issues as they arise. The PhillyStormwater system has made a substantial impact on the new stormwater billing process and saved hundreds of hours for the Water Department staff members per month. The system is the largest of its type in the country and certainly is progressive in the way it charges for stormwater management costs."

Elsewhere, the American Association for State and Local History betowed an Award of Merit upon phillyhistory.org, a site whose collection of photographs and maps includes material from the Water Department's archives. The award was conferred based on the site's achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.

Congratulations to both websites and their caretakers.