CCWA Earns Industry Awards during Recent Spring Conference
Shown left to right: General Manager H. Bernard Franks, Shoal Creek WRF Plant Manager David Blackstock, Northeast WRF Plant Manager Herlon Fayard, Northeast WRF Chief Operator Keith Kiblinger and W.B. Casey WRRF Pelletizing Plant Manager Tony Somerville.
Morrow, Georgia – – Clayton County Water Authority (CCWA) staff proudly accepted several top industry awards during the Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) Spring Conference in Columbus, Georgia in late April.
During the awards luncheon on April 23, CCWA received the GAWP Wastewater Plant of the Year for Advanced Treatment 3 – 5.9 MGD Category for its Shoal Creek Water Reclamation Facility (WRF); the
GAWP Biosolids/Residuals Program of Excellence Award for Large Operating System – Greater than 5 Dry Ton Category for 2018 operations for its W.B. Casey Water Resource Recovery Facility Pelletizing Plant; the GAWP Biosolids/Residuals Program of Excellence Award for Small Operating System – Less Than 5 Dry Ton Category for 2018 for its Northeast WRF and the GAWP District 3 Top Operator for Wastewater went to Northeast WRF Chief Operator Keith Kiblinger.
“It takes a team effort to earn these awards, and I am very proud of our team,” says CCWA General Manager H. Bernard Franks. “They are proud to be water professionals, and they work hard to raise the bar in our industry while providing the quality services to our community.”
CCWA Board Chairman John Chafin adds that the awards are validation from industry peers that CCWA employees are leaders in our state. “They work hard and look for innovative ways to do their jobs and continue to earn the respect of their peers.”
The formal Wastewater Plant of the Year competition program is conducted statewide by GAWP and includes a comprehensive on-site evaluation performed by an expert technical inspection team. All the systems under review possessed examples of exceptional operation, but only a select few rise to the top during this exhaustive process.
According to GAWP, the Top Op Award recognizes operators who are ‘a moving force in the operations of their respective facilities.’ These outstanding operators are an example for others who have imparted knowledge that helps in the operation of water and wastewater municipalities across the state. Kiblinger joins several other CCWA operators who have earned this honor in the past for water and wastewater.
In addition, all three water production plants earned GAWP Platinum Awards for 100 percent permit compliance in 2018:
J.W. Smith Water Production Plant – 10 years Platinum
Terry R. Hicks Water Production Plant – 18 years Platinum
W.J. Hooper Plant – 21 years Platinum
All three water reclamation facilities earned GAWP Platinum Awards for 100 percent compliance in 2018:
Northeast WRF – 10 years Platinum
W.B. Casey Water Resource Recovery Facility – 14 years Platinum
Shoal Creek WRF – 22 years Platinum
“I’m extremely proud of the Water Reclamation Staff and how they strive for continual improvement and excellence,” adds Water Reclamation Manager Chris Hamilton. “These awards reflect the outstanding work they are doing to protect Clayton County’s environment and provide quality water and quality services. It’s been an honor and a privilege to work with the team over the years, and I’m sure they will carry on the tradition of being an award-winning department.” Hamilton is retiring this month after more than 33 years with CCWA.
CCWA competed against other award-winning systems within metro Atlanta and the state for the awards. Competition continues to be very tight for these prestigious industry awards, which signifies validation from fellow water professionals.
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.
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