News release
The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency announced its communications team has received one of the top honors in its field – the Public Relations Society of America Silver Anvil Award – for its in-house public relations campaign and community outreach supporting the agency’s FY 2025/26 – FY 2029/30 Water Rate Study and rates adjustment process.
PRSA announced its 2026 Silver Anvil winners at a ceremony in New York City on May 14, said a news release from the water agency.
“Part of the SCV Water mission statement is ‘providing responsible water stewardship’ for the Santa Clarita Valley community,” SCV Water Communications Manager Kevin Strauss said in the release. “Being recognized on the national stage for communicating that mission and working with the community on a complex, sensitive and important topic like water rates is an incredible honor.”
In its 82nd year, the Anvil Awards have long been considered the icon of the public relations profession and the benchmark of outstanding performance in communications, the release said. Silver Anvils single out the best strategic communications campaigns of the year, while Bronze Anvils recognize specific outstanding tactics and materials that contribute to the success of overall programs or campaigns.
SCV Water’s rates engagement campaign, which was completed in accordance with California’s Proposition 218 requirements, aimed to deliver clear, accessible information through mailers, public meetings, digital platforms, a dedicated webpage, and traditional media to educate ratepayers, encourage participation in the public comment and hearing processes, and maintain agency transparency, the release said.
The campaign earned a Silver Anvil in the Community Relations – Government category, which honors work that aims to improve relations with, or seek to win the support or cooperation of, people or organizations in the community.
Earlier, SCV Water received a Best-in-Show and EPIC (Excellence in Public Information and Communications) award from the California Association of Public Information Officials for this campaign. The agency previously took home a PRism award (first place) from PRSA’s Los Angeles chapter in October 2025.
