CCWA Continues Raising the Bar Earning Industry Awards
June 8, 2021 (Morrow, Georgia) – – Clayton County Water Authority (CCWA) earned several awards from the Georgia Association of Water Professional’s (GAWP) recent Spring Conference, including Biosolids/Residuals Program of Excellence, Public Education Program of Excellence in Water, Denise Skinner-Hurst Pretreatment Award and 100% permit compliance awards.
The awards were presented over the six-week GAWP virtual spring conference that ran April – May.
“We take great pride in earning these awards. We are true competitors in the water industry, and we will never stop raising the bar,” says CCWA General Manager H. Bernard Franks. “We know our customers, community and board of directors are also proud of the award-winning services we provide on a daily basis.”
Biosolids/Residuals Program of Excellence Award – Northeast Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) in Rex
CCWA’s Northeast WRF earned this award for the Small Operating System Less than 5 Dry Ton Category for 2020. This award recognizes excellence in biosolids management. Biosolids are the solid organic matter recovered from the wastewater treatment process. Competition is fierce as candidates are evaluated against the following criteria by a panel of peers that conduct an unscheduled, very comprehensive plant inspection.
- Recycling or reuse of natural resources such as nutrients and organic matter found in biosolids or other sludges
- Demonstrated energy efficiency and/or cost effectiveness
- Demonstrated excellence in program/project management
- Technical innovation in the management of biosolids/residuals
Herlon Fayard is the plant supervisor and Keith Kiblinger is the chief operator. They work with a team of 7 other plant operators and support staff.
Public Education Program of Excellence in Water Award
CCWA’s Communications & Community Relations staff earned the Public Education Program of Excellence in Water Award for Large Systems. Recipients must score at least 90% in the General section and then at least a 90% in the Water Education section. Evidence is provided showing program planning, promotion, implementation, and follow-up. This award encompasses school programs, facility tours, waterway clean up events like Rivers Alive, community outreach events, conservation programs and participation in national campaigns such as Fix A Leak Week and Drinking Water Week. This award covered June 1, 2019 – May 31, 2020.
Denise Skinner-Hurst Pretreatment Award
CCWA Environmental Compliance Manager Jennifer Brandon received the Denise Skinner-Hurst Pretreatment Award for her contributions to the industrial pretreatment profession. The purpose of industrial pretreatment program is to prevent industries from discharging excessive pollutants to municipal wastewater treatment systems (also known as publicly owned treatment works, or POTW). The program requires industries discharging excessive pollutants to treat their wastewater before releasing it to municipal sewer systems like CCWA. The national program was created as part of the 1972 Clean Water Act to protect treatment plants and waterways.
Criteria for the award include:
- Developing standards of practice
- Teaching/training
- Publications/books/papers/presentations
- Professional accomplishments
- Leadership
- Membership recruitment
Brandon has served in several leadership roles in the Pretreatment Committee and is a highly respected industry leader throughout the state of Georgia.
Facilities Mark 100% Permit Compliance
Water production and water reclamation facilities earn Gold Awards for meeting 100% permit compliance for a calendar year. After earning Gold for five years, they earn Platinum Awards. All three CCWA water production plants earned Platinum Awards for 100 percent permit compliance in 2020:
J.W. Smith Water Production Plant – 12 years Platinum
Terry R. Hicks Water Production Plant – 20 years Platinum
W.J. Hooper Plant – 23 years Platinum
The Shoal Creek Water Reclamation Facility also received its 23rd consecutive Platinum Awards for 100 percent compliance in 2020.
The Georgia Association of Water Professionals is the State’s premier professional association for water, wastewater and related issues. GAWP was founded in 1932 and started the first license program for water professionals in Georgia. For over 75 years, GAWP has provided the bulk of certified professional training for water and wastewater operators here in Georgia. GAWP is the nation’s second largest state-level association of water professionals and is formally affiliated with several other national professional organizations.