HCWA Honored with Industry Awards
This year thus far has been highlighted by industry awards for the Henry County Water Authority (HCWA), as the Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) has recognized its employees and facilities for superior achievements.
Highlights of the GAWP Annual Conference & Expo in Savannah in July included the Master Plan Spotlight Award for the HCWA, in recognition of the Authority’s 2015-2045 Water and Wastewater Master Plans. In addition, three HCWA employees were honored as well.
Eric Osborne, HCWA Water Production Manager, received the Operator Meritorious Service Award from the American Water Works Association (AWWA). The AWWA Meritorious Operator is a water professional recognized for special performance in one or more of the following areas: (1) continuous compliance with public health standards in finished water; (2) consistent and outstanding contribution to plant maintenance; (3) development of new and/or modified equipment; (4) special efforts in the training of treatment plant operators; (5) special acts not directly related to water treatment, but which demonstrate dedication to the public beyond the normal operator’s responsibilities; and (6) consistent and outstanding contributions to operations and/or maintenance of distribution lines, pump stations, and reservoirs.
In addition, Tony Carnell, HCWA Deputy Manager, was inducted into the GAWP 5-S Society, which is an elite group of water professionals who have made a significant contribution to the art and science of Collection System Operations. Those contributions come in the form of operation, maintenance, design, construction, management, planning, education, training, or certification of collection systems, as well as through service to GAWP and the Georgia Section of the American Water Works Association (GAWWA).
During its Annual Conference, the GAWP also recognized Barry Brand, HCWA Tussahaw Plant Supervisor, with Life Membership, an exclusive award for water professionals with 30 years of practice in the industry and service to the Association.
Earlier this year during the GAWP Spring Conference, the HCWA Bear Creek Land Application System received the top honor of Water Reclamation Facility of the Year in Georgia, within the category of facilities with 1.1 to 10 million gallons per day of treatment capacity.
The Water Reclamation Facility of the Year Award is given to the best managed and best operated facilities in Georgia. To win this award, not only is the score from an annual review of the facility considered, but all aspects of the facility’s performance, such as safety, maintenance, operations, documentation, lab operations, and industrial monitoring. The Bear Creek and Walnut Creek Water Reclamation Facilities both received GAWP Platinum Awards as well, for achieving 100 percent permit compliance for at least five consecutive years.
In addition, the HCWA Tussahaw and Towaliga Water Treatment Plants each received a Certificate of Achievement for Best Operated Water Plant in Georgia in their respective categories. Those facilities also received GAWP Platinum Awards for achieving 100 percent permit compliance for 11 consecutive years.
Finally, during the GAWP Spring Conference, the Authority’s Eric Osborne and Lesa Walker, HCWA Operations Manager, were inducted into the inaugural class of the Golden Hydrant Society, which is an award society organized by GAWWA for the recognition of professionals in the drinking water industry. Each year, only five nominees will be inducted into the Golden Hydrant Society. This year, two of the five members of the state’s water industry honor society hailed from the HCWA. As members of the inaugural class, Osborne and Walker and the other inductees will have their names added to a national registry held by AWWA.
“I’m very proud of our employees for their hard work and talents that have resulted in them being recognized as the best of the best, and all of our award winners are very deserving,” says Lindy Farmer, HCWA General Manager. “Their commitment to the Authority and our customers shows how much they are invested in this community, as well as how much they are respected in our industry.”
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