FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 7, 2018
DEP Presents 2017 Plant Excellence Awards
to Southwest
Florida Water Facility Operators
~Local drinking water and wastewater facilities recognized
for innovative practices~
 DEP Assistant Director Kelley Boatwright (right) pictured
with Frank Fulgham, Wastewater Division Manager, city of Tarpon Springs.
HAINES CITY,
Fla. – The Florida
Department of Environmental Protection presented the 2017 Plant Operations
Excellence Awards to two Southwest Florida drinking water and one domestic
wastewater facility at the annual Focus on Change Seminar. Drinking water
facility award recipients were the City of Dunedin and the Hillsborough County
Lithia Treatment Plant. The wastewater facility recipient was the City
of Tarpon Springs Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility.
“It’s
important to us that the dedication and commitment to excellence shown by these
plant operators is celebrated. “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 14 facilities, including
six domestic wastewater facilities and eight drinking water facilities
statewide. The other awards will be presented at district ceremonies
during the Focus on Change Seminars in Punta Gorda, Ocala, Pompano Beach, Lake City and Panama City.
This is the 28th 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.
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