The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) recently honored 15 public drinking water systems with its top utility management awards. Eleven systems received Platinum Awards for Utility Excellence and four systems earned Gold Awards for Exceptional Utility Performance. The awards, which were presented in ceremonies at AMWA’s Annual Meeting in New Orleans, recognize outstanding achievement in implementing the nationally recognized Attributes of Effectively Managed Utilities.
Winners of the 2008 AMWA Platinum Awards for Utility Excellence are:
• Chesterfield County Department of Utilities (Virginia);
• Columbus Water Works (Georgia);
• Contra Costa Water District (California);
• District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority;
• Green Bay Water Utility;
• Los Angeles Department of Water and Power;
• Massachusetts Water Resources Authority;
• City of Norfolk Department of Utilities (Virginia);
• Northern Kentucky Water District;
• Spartanburg Water (South Carolina); and
• Tualatin Valley Water District (Oregon).
Gold Awards for Exceptional Utility Performance were presented to:
• Fairfax Water (Virginia);
• Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority;
• Prince William County Service Authority (Virginia); and
• City of Salem Public Works Department (Oregon).
“AMWA’s 2008 award-winning water agencies are industry pace-setters, systems where management vision and employee commitment create sustainable utilities producing ample supplies of clean, safe water for their communities,” said AMWA President Brian Ramaley, director of Newport News Water Works. “These systems have implemented a full range of successful initiatives that address all of the industry-recognized attributes of effectively managed utilities.”
The Attributes of Effectively Managed Utilities were developed by a blue-ribbon panel of water and wastewater utility executives, commissioned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, AMWA and other water industry associations. The attributes they identified include: product quality, customer satisfaction, employee and leadership development, operational optimization, financial viability, infrastructure stability, operational resiliency, community sustainability, water resource adequacy and stakeholder understanding and support.
Source: AMWA
