HCWA - Henry County Water Authority
08/19/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/19/2024 17:40
Plant of the Year headlines HCWA industry awards this year
Plant of the Year headlines HCWA industry awards this year
Customers of the Henry County Water Authority (HCWA) are enjoying tap water produced by the Best Operated Water Plant in the state, according to the Georgia Section of the American Water Works Association (GAWWA).
The HCWA Tussahaw Water Treatment Plant won the GAWWA Plant of the Year Award, which is one of several industry awards the Authority has received this year for its outstanding operations and facilities, not to mention honors bestowed upon accomplished water professionals working for the utility. The most recent accolades were presented to the HCWA at the Annual Conference of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) this summer.
The HCWA Tussahaw Plant is a four-time recipient of the Plant of the Year Award, having won previously in 2021, 2016, and 2011. In addition, the Tussahaw Plant's Platinum Award recognizes 17 consecutive years of 100% permit compliance. Thus, the Tussahaw Plant has not had a permit violation since it came online in 2007.
The GAWWA Water Treatment Plant of the Year Award is presented annually, recognizing municipal water treatment facilities that have been operated in an outstanding manner, with categories based on facility size. This award is given to the best managed, best operated facilities in the state of Georgia. To win this award, not only is the score compiled and considered by water industry judges, but all aspects of the facility are evaluated - such as safety, maintenance operations, documentation, lab operations, and industrial monitoring.
"To receive the Plant of the Year Award, the Tussahaw Plant operations were fully inspected and scored on a 100-point system and ranked 'first place' against other plants of similar size and complexity, so this is a well-operated facility that produces excellent quality drinking water, which Henry County water customers can rely on," says Pam Burnett, GAWP Executive Director. "As an award-winning facility, the Tussahaw Plant and the water professionals who operate it are held in high regard and inspire others to achieve this level of recognition, benefitting their own communities."
The HCWA Towaliga Water Treatment Plant finished as an honorable mention for Plant of the Year, narrowly behind the Tussahaw Plant. The facility was just 1.42 points short in the grading for the Plant of the Year honor, thus earning it the Certificate of Distinguished Merit, which still is a high honor.
In addition, the Towaliga Plant's Platinum Award likewise reflected 17 consecutive years without a permit violation, just like the Tussahaw Plant. The Towaliga Plant is a previous Plant of the Year Award winner as well, bringing home this honor in 2015 and most recently in 2019.
The following industry honors have been awarded to the HCWA thus far in 2024:
* General Manager Tony Carnell received the GAWP Hugh A. Wyckoff Award for his involvement in and promotion of the Association, as well as for his sharing of industry knowledge with fellow water professionals; in addition, Carnell received the Champion of Diversity Award from the GAWWA, which honors those who have created, promoted, and maintained diversity within a healthy work environment.
* HCWA Water Production Manager Eric Osborne received the GAWWA Kenneth J. Miller Founder's Award for his outstanding volunteer service. The Miller Award was established in 2001 by the Board of Directors for Water for People to honor outstanding volunteer service and contributions to humanitarian efforts. Osborne also was inducted into the GAWP 5S Society, a high honor for GAWP members.
* The HCWA received the U.S. Presidential Volunteer Service Silver Award for employees volunteering between 500 to 1,000 hours of service during the year.
* The GAWWA Award for the Best Operated Water Plant in the state - within the category of 15 to 25 million gallons per day (MGD) of production capacity - for the HCWA Tussahaw Water Treatment Plant.
* The GAWP Certificate of Distinguished Merit (honorable mention for Plant of the Year) for the HCWA Towaliga Water Treatment Plant.
* The GAWP Platinum Award for the HCWA Tussahaw Water Treatment Plant for 17 consecutive years without a permit violation.
* The GAWP Platinum Award for the HCWA Towaliga Water Treatment Plant for 17 consecutive years of 100% permit compliance.
* The GAWP Gold Award for the HCWA Bear Creek Water Reclamation Facility for 100% permit compliance this past year.
* The GAWP Education Program of Excellence Award in the category of water conservation/water supply. This award recognizes those utilities and organizations who plan and implement superior public education programs.
* The Authority's Robert Sims received the GAWP Golden Wrench Award, which recognizes a mechanic who performs at a level of excellence that is above and beyond normal expectations of a maintenance technician.
* The Authority's Michael Dodson received the GAWP District 3 Top Collections System Operator Award, which recognizes those operators who excel in their duties while setting a positive example and serving as a mentor to others.
* For the Authority's Michael Dodson, GAWP Top Op Awards run in the family. His wife Crystal Dodson, who is a wastewater plant operator for the Clayton County Water Authority (CCWA), won this year's GAWP District 3 Top Wastewater Operator Award.
Captions for photos (top to bottom):
Barry Brand (far right), HCWA Operations Supervisor of Water Production for the Tussahaw Water Treatment Plant, and Mike Curry (second from right), Tussahaw Plant Operator, conduct a tour of the award-winning facility, which was recently named GAWP Best Operated Water Plant of the Year.
Tony Carnell (center), pictured with his family during the GAWP Annual Conference, received this year's GAWP Hugh A. Wyckoff Award and GAWWA Champion of Diversity Award.
The Authority's Lindsey Sanders (second from left), Kelly Prescott, Tara Brown, and Kim Pace (second from right), receive the U.S. Presidential Volunteer Service Silver Award on behalf of the Authority, which recognizes HCWA employees for volunteering between 500 to 1,000 hours of service during the year.
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Media Contact: Chris Wood, Ph.D.
P: 770-757-1681