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

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 23, 2017

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

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

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

award winners

DEP Northwest District Director Shawn Hamilton presents award to Bay County Water, Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Destin Water Users and North Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility. (clockwise from left)


PANAMA CITY, Fla. – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection presented the 2016 Plant Operations Excellence Awards to four Northwest Florida water facilities at the annual Focus on Change Seminar. Drinking water facility award recipients were Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Destin Water Users and Bay County Water. The wastewater facility award recipient was North Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility. 

Both Naval Air Station Whiting Field and Bay County Water Treatment Plant are repeat winners five and six consecutive years, respectively.

“On behalf of DEP and the state of Florida, I am proud to recognize NAS Whiting Field, Destin Water Users, Bay County Water and North Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility for their commitment to operational excellence,” said Shawn Hamilton, director 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, 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 were presented at district ceremonies during the Focus on Change Seminars in Pompano Beach, Punta Gorda, Haines City, Lake City and Ocala.

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.