Cooperation between the City of Ames and Iowa State University has recently paid off.

The City of Ames was notified it will receive the Clean Water Partner for the 21st Century award from the Environmental Protection Agency on Jan. 13 for environmental protection efforts.

The award commemorates the 30th anniversary of the passage of the Clean Water Act, said John Dunn, assistant director of water and pollution control in Ames.

“The intent is to recognize local governments that are going above and beyond the Clean Water Act,” he said.

The award recognizes Ames for recent work in cleaning up College Creek and for preserving the Ada Hayden Heritage Park, Dunn said.

The award shows Ames’s commitment to protecting the environment, he said.

David Inyang, director of environmental health and safety at Iowa State, said he believes Iowa State played a part in the award.

“The City of Ames and Iowa State University have a wonderful relationship,” he said. “If Ames received an award then Iowa State without a doubt had some contribution.”

Dunn said Ames’s environmental concern was evident through recent efforts at Iowa State to clean up chemical leaks into city waste water.

According to staff reports, acetone, chloroform, ethyl ether, methylene chloride and toluene were detected in a pipe only ISU buildings have access to.

Since the chemicals were found, the City of Ames has been monitoring ISU manholes weekly, Dunn said.

Iowa State has also been paying for testing expenses, he said.

“I think the [reaction to the chemical leak and the award] are related,” Dunn said. “There is a heightened awareness of environmental protection in the city and we look for those types of things.”

Dunn said the clean water award reflects the efforts of all departments within the City of Ames.

“The thing that is really nice about this award is that it’s not tied to one specific department,” he said. “It’s really the effort of the entire community.

A ceremony recognizing award recipients will be held Feb. 18, at EPA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.