AQUALIS Project Named 2026 Wisconsin Engineering Excellence Finalist

MILWAUKEE, Wisc.- A comprehensive Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) Plan developed by AQUALIS for the City of Green Bay has been named a 2026 State of Wisconsin Engineering Excellence Award finalist, recognizing the project’s innovative, data-driven approach to urban flood mitigation and water-quality improvement.

Being named a 2026 State of Wisconsin Engineering Excellence Award finalist is a distinguished honor within the engineering community. These awards recognize projects that demonstrate exceptional innovation, technical complexity, measurable community impact and a high degree of collaboration between engineers and clients.

Projects are evaluated not only on design quality, but also on how effectively they solve real-world challenges, advance industry practices and deliver long-term value. Finalists represent the highest standard of engineering achievement across the state.

The project selected, City of Green Bay: City-Wide Green Stormwater Infrastructure Plan, addresses the issues of flooding and improper water quality by treating stormwater where it lands. By mimicking natural hydrology, GSI captures, stores, treats and gradually releases runoff. This approach reduces peak flows, improves water quality and alleviates strain on traditional storm sewer systems and receiving waters.

This structured, repeatable methodology allows Green Bay to incorporate GSI into development, redevelopment and capital improvement projects with confidence.

“This project has positioned the City of Green Bay as an emerging statewide leader in resilient stormwater management and sustainability planning.” Says Valerie Jooste, PE, Director of Public Works for the City of Green Bay. “[AQUALIS’s] approach went beyond a planning document [..]. The plan is detailed, actionable, and adaptable – helping the City to evaluate targeted investments in flood resilience, water quality, and environmental justice.”

The project supports broader goals of climate resilience and sustainable urban development, helping Green Bay build infrastructure that works with natural systems rather than against them.

Kevin Hopkins, Project Engineer at AQUALIS says, “This plan reduces peak flows and improves receiving water quality in the Fox and East Rivers by identifying areas that are contributing larger amounts of pollutants and promoting the installation of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). The plan has already led to the installation of a permeable paver system in the City.”

The Engineering Excellence finalist designation underscores the project’s role in elevating both municipal infrastructure planning and the broader practice of sustainable stormwater management in Wisconsin. It recognizes not only engineering precision, but also the collaborative vision required to transform complex watershed data into practical, community-centered solutions that will serve Green Bay for decades to come.

About AQUALIS

AQUALIS is the premier provider of sustainable water management for stormwater, wastewater and water quality testing across the United States. Our engineers and certified water compliance professionals provide technical expertise and optimal, tailored solutions for sustainable water compliance, design, consultation, infrastructure rehabilitation and management. From concept to completion and lifetime preventative maintenance and repairs, AQUALIS has the in-house capabilities to support corporate and municipal water infrastructure and compliance needs. For more information, visit www.aqualisco.com.