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 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER FACILITY OPERATORS 

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

DEP Southwest District Director Mary Yeargan with award recipients representing city of Dunedin Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plant, Tampa Bay Water Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant and the city of Tarpon Springs Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility.

HAINES CITY, Fla. – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection presented the 2016 Plant Operations Excellence Awards to three Southwest Florida drinking water and domestic wastewater facilities at the annual Focus on Change Seminar. Drinking water facility award recipients were the city of Dunedin Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plant and the Tampa Bay Water Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant. The wastewater facility recipient was the city of Tarpon Springs Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility. 

“The Southwest District congratulates the city of Tarpon Springs, the city of Dunedin and Tampa Bay Water for their outstanding commitment to excellence,” said Mary Yeargan, DEP Southwest District director. "Their dedicated and knowledgeable staff have helped establish these facilities as some of the best in Southwest Florida. These awards highlight the essential roles that these facilities play when it comes to the important task of producing high-quality water, while conserving resources and protecting the environment.”

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 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, Ocala, Punta Gorda, 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/185629e