FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 8, 2017

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

DEP PRESENTS 2016 PLANT EXCELLENCE AWARDS TO CENTRAL FLORIDA WATER FACILITY OPERATORS 

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

DEP Central District Director Jeff Prather presents award to city of Winter Park Swoope Water Plant (left) and the city of Clermont East Water System (right).

OCALA, Fla. – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection presented the 2016 Plant Operations Excellence Awards to two Central Florida drinking water facilities at the annual Focus on Change Seminar. Drinking water facility award recipients were the city of Clermont East Water System and the city of Winter Park Swoope Water Plant. 

“These two facilities are leaders in providing quality water to their customers, and in conserving our water resources,” said DEP Central District Director Jeff Prather. “Florida needs both quality and conservation – and Clermont and Winter Park are leaders in both.”

Clermont East is a repeat winner, having won a Plant Excellence Award last year. They use advanced metering infrastructure technology to monitor water usage and to target conservation measures where it will pay off most.

Winter Park Swoope offers free irrigation consultations to help customers identify areas of high water use, and then recommend where they can adjust. This saves money for customers and conserves water for the environment.

Each year, DEP 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 15 facilities, including five domestic wastewater facilities and 10 drinking water facilities statewide. The other awards will be presented at district ceremonies during the Focus on Change Seminars in Pompano Beach, Punta Gorda, Haines City, Lake City and Panama City.

This is the 27th 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.

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/185612f