EPA Recognizes Outstanding Water Quality Achievement in Georgia

EPA today announced the recipients of the 2007 National Clean Water Act Recognition Awards, including recipients in Douglasville, Gainesville and Atlanta, Ga. The three Georgia recipients were among four winners in the Southeast and 22 selected nationally. The awards are aimed at recognizing municipalities and industries for outstanding and creative technological achievements in wastewater treatment and pollution abatement programs.

“The facilities we are recognizing in the Southeast today have made outstanding contributions to safeguarding our water,” said EPA Region 4 Administrator Jimmy Palmer. “Their innovative approaches and achievements improve water quality and protect public health and the environment in the communities they serve.”

As we get ready to mark the 35th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, water quality has dramatically improved through the use of scientific standards, discharge permits, pre-treatment requirements, state and local funding and watershed planning. The National Clean Water Act Recognition Awards honor demonstrated outstanding project and program water quality achievements in four categories: operations and maintenance, exemplary biosolids management, national pre-treatment, and stormwater management.

The Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority’s South Central Urban Water Reuse Facility in Douglasville won first place for operations and maintenance in the small, non-discharging plant category. The Flat Creek Water Reclamation Facility in Gainesville won second place for operations and maintenance in the large, advanced plant category. And the Columbus Water Works in Atlanta won first place for exemplary biosolids management in the technology development activities category.

Each year, the awards are announced during the Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exposition and Conference. Nationally there are nine winners in the operations and maintenance category; five awardees under exemplary biosolids management; six recipients in the national pre-treatment area; and two in the stormwater management category. Winners were chosen based on water quality compliance screenings and a satisfactory environmental quality record