FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2016

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us 

DEP PRESENTS 2015 PLANT EXCELLENCE AWARDS TO CENTRAL FLORIDA WATER FACILITY OPERATORS 

~Awards presented to three recipients for innovation at
wastewater and drinking water facilities~

DEP Central District Director Jeff Prather with Plant Operations Excellence Award
recipient representing city of Eustis Wastewater Treatment Plant.

OCALA, Fla. – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today presented the 2015 Plant Operations Excellence Awards to three Central Florida drinking water and domestic wastewater facilities at the annual Focus on Change Seminar. Drinking water facility award recipients were city of Clermont East Water System and city of Port Orange, Charles B. Garnsey Water Treatment Plant. The wastewater facility recipient was the city of Eustis Wastewater Treatment Plant.

“We applaud these plant operators for their hard work and commitment to excellence," said Jeff Prather, DEP Central District director. “Florida depends on clean water, so we’re excited to work alongside these leading utilities and the communities that they serve.”

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. These awards recognize facilities that demonstrate a special commitment to excellence in management through dedicated professionalism and that have an impeccable history of record-keeping compliance. 

The department is awarding a total of 16 facilities, including five domestic wastewater facilities and 11 drinking water facilities statewide. The other awards are being presented at district ceremonies during the upcoming Focus on Change Seminars in Panama City, Haines City, Punta Gorda and Tamarac.

This is the 26th year that the Florida Rural Water Association has conducted the Focus on Change Seminar in conjunction with DEP. The seminar is designed to provide current regulatory information to utilities in order to improve compliance.

The department's Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) programs have awarded a combined total of more than $5 billion for 182 wastewater, stormwater and drinking water improvement projects. The programs are funded by federal grants, state matching funds, loan repayments and interest earnings. The CWSRF began awarding grants in 1989 and the DWSRF began awarding grants in 1998. For more information, visit here.

About the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s principal environmental agency, created to protect, conserve and manage Florida’s environment and natural resources. The department enforces federal and state environmental laws, protects Florida’s air and water quality, cleans up pollution, regulates solid waste management, promotes pollution prevention and acquires environmentally sensitive lands for preservation. The agency also maintains a statewide system of parks, trails and aquatic preserves. Visit the department’s website at www.dep.state.fl.us.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP/bulletins/139accc