Florida DEP Presents 2017 Plant Excellence Awards
Each year, the department presents awards to domestic wastewater and drinking water facilities around the state that demonstrate excellence in operation, maintenance, innovative treatment, waste reduction, pollution prevention, recycling, or other achievements.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection recently presented 2017 Plant Operations Excellence Awards to five northwest Florida utilities for their commitment to operational excellence. Three drinking water and two domestic wastewater facilities were honored during the annual Focus on Change Seminar. The drinking water facility award recipients were Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Destin Water Users Inc., and Bay County Water Treatment Plant, and the wastewater facility recipients were the Military Point Regional Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility and the Rivercamps on Crooked Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant.
"On behalf of DEP and the state of Florida, I am proud to recognize NAS Whiting Field, Destin Water Users, Bay County Water, Military Point Regional, and Rivercamps on Crooked Creek for their commitment to operational excellence," said Michael Fuller, administrator of the Panama City branch office of DEP's Northwest District. "We are fortunate to have such outstanding community partners working alongside us, safeguarding Florida's natural resources and ensuring clean and dependable water for our residents."
Each year, the department presents awards to domestic wastewater and drinking water facilities around the state that demonstrate excellence in operation, maintenance, innovative treatment, waste reduction, pollution prevention, recycling, or other achievements. The awards recognize facilities that demonstrate a special commitment to excellence in management and have an impeccable history of recordkeeping compliance.
This year the department gave awards to 14 facilities in all, including six domestic wastewater facilities and eight drinking water facilities statewide. The other awards are being presented at district ceremonies during Focus on Change Seminars in Punta Gorda, Ocala, Pompano Beach, Lake City, and Haines City. This is the 28th year that the Florida Rural Water Association has conducted the Focus on Change Seminar with DEP; the seminars provide current regulatory information to utilities in order to improve compliance.