FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 19, 2019

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

DEP Presents Plant Excellence Awards to Five South Florida Facilities

~South Florida entities recognized for innovative efforts to improve operations and customer service~

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has presented 2018 Plant Operations Excellence Awards to three South Florida wastewater treatment facilities and two drinking water facilities. This year’s wastewater treatment facility award recipients include the Japanese Gardens Homeowners Corp. Inc., Babcock Ranch Water Utility and the Collier County North County Water Reclamation Facility. The Island Water Association Water Treatment Plant and Peace River Manasota Regional Water Treatment Plant are this year’s drinking water facility recipients.

“Congratulations to the South District's winners of the 2018 Plant Excellence Awards. The winners represent the broad spectrum of water and wastewater utilities that serve this region," said DEP South District Director Jon Iglehart. "DEP recognizes their outstanding commitment to providing outstanding service to their customers and the environmental benefits of exceptional performance. We are working together to protect Florida’s natural resources.”

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 18 facilities, including 10 domestic wastewater facilities and eight drinking water facilities statewide. The awards are being presented at district ceremonies during the Focus on Change Seminars held during the month of February around the state in Haines City, Lake City, Niceville, Ocala, Pompano Beach and Punta Gorda.

This is the 29th 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 FloridaDEP.gov.

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLDEP/bulletins/22ff08f