As the water industry’s summer conference season comes to a close, the Macon Water Authority (MWA) is celebrating a string of awards that place the utility among the best of the best in the state and nation.

During the recent Utility Leadership Conference of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) in Seattle, Washington, the MWA was among a select number of utilities in the country to receive the Gold Award for Peak Performance at its Lower Poplar Water Reclamation Facility.

The NACWA Peak Performance Gold Award is presented to facilities with no permit violations during this past calendar year. According to NACWA officials, the award was especially impressive considering water utilities have been continually facing the challenges of staffing and operating during the pandemic.

“Despite the many challenges and setbacks that we faced as a nation and a global community over the last three years, these (award winning) NACWA member public utilities have been able to deliver consistent and reliable clean water services,” says Adam Krantz, NACWA Chief Executive Officer. “The herculean efforts by the staff and leadership of the over 350 utilities that comprise NACWA’s membership cannot be overstated, particularly their work as front-line environmental first responders. Truly, America’s public clean water utilities held steadfast in their commitment to serve and inspire their communities throughout the course of the pandemic.”

NACWA is the nation’s recognized leader in legislative, regulatory, legal and communications advocacy on the full spectrum of water issues. NACWA represents public wastewater and stormwater agencies of all sizes, nationwide.

In addition to receiving the NACWA Gold Award for Peak Performance, the Lower Poplar Water Reclamation Facility also received a Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) Gold Award for 100% permit compliance, which was presented to the Authority during the GAWP Spring Conference in Dalton earlier this year.

But headlining the Authority’s 2022 statewide GAWP Awards is the coveted honor of Best Operated Plant of the Year presented to the MWA Frank C. Amerson, Jr. Water Treatment Plant, in addition to the Amerson Plant receiving the GAWP Platinum Award for nine consecutive years of 100% permit compliance. The Amerson Plant was selected as Plant of the Year in Georgia in the category of Surface Water facilities with a production capacity of 75 to 100 million gallons per day (MGD).

Additional GAWP Awards presented to the MWA this Spring included the selection of Christine Fowler as District 5 Top Water Plant Operator, as well as Gary Headden as the District 5 Top Wastewater Plant Operator. Gary McCoy, MWA Director of Water Treatment, was inducted into the Golden Hydrant Society for providing outstanding service to the Association and state water industry.

Finally, during the most recent GAWP Annual Conference & Expo in Savannah last month, Heather Veal received the Arthur Sidney Bedell Award for extraordinary service to the Georgia Section of the Water Environment Federation (WEF). Also, during the GAWP Annual Conference, the Authority’s Randy Gillis and Cedrick Jenkins were recognized as 2022 Level 1 graduates of the GAWP Leadership Academy.

For more information on MWA awards and honors, please visit the Authority’s website at www.maconwater.org.