Rockdale County’s water treatment facility is the best operated plant of its size in Georgia, according to the Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP). GAWP has awarded Rockdale Water Resources with its coveted “Best Operated Water Plant Award” for 2008 in the category of facilities capable of treating more than 15 million gallons of water per day.
Rockdale bested 10 other similarly-sized plants, including Columbus Water Works, Gwinnett County’s Shoal Creek Filter Plant and Lanier Filter Plant, Athens-Clarke’s J.G. Beacham plant and several others. The award was based on the results of a 17-page report completed by a team of inspectors who visited each of the plants. A few of the many evaluation categories were permit monitoring, treatment processes and safety.
Additionally, Rockdale Water Resources earned GAWP’s prestigious Gold Award for meeting and/or surpassing all permit criteria at its water treatment facility for the year of 2008.
“GAWP is honored to recognize exceptional performance in the delivery of safe, potable water as this type of leadership is essential to a prosperous future for all Georgians,” GAWP Communications Director Bryan Wagnor said in announcing the award winners.
Also, Rockdale County placed second in its district in a water taste that was conducted on April 14, 2009 during GAWP’s Spring Conference.
“I am extremely proud of our RWR employees for there successes in providing the safest and best quality of water possible to the citizens of Rockdale County,” said County Commission Chairman & CEO Richard Oden. “These are significant achievements, and I appreciate their dedication and hard work.”
RWR Director Dwight Wicks added: “This accomplishment is just the beginning of the positive changes and successes envisioned for the RWR organization.”
The Rockdale Water Resources team responsible for operating the water treatment plant includes the following individuals:
Joseph Spann, Plant Superintendent
Lee Pope, Water Plant Manager
Hugh Pannell, Maintenance Superintendent
Steve Cole, Reservoir Administrator
Raymond Gonzales, Distribution Operator
Tiffany Shepard, Administrative Assistant
Theo Demps, Distribution Coordinator
Brad Thompson, Distribution Operator
Rian Collins, Distribution Operator
Vernoy Murray, Chief Operator – Class 1
Tim Check, Chief Operator – Class 1
Holly Hughes, Plant Operator – Class 1
Keith Fisher, Plant Operator – Class 2
Andrew Churchwell, Plant Operator – Class 2
Brian Moore, Plant Operator – Class 3
Lonnie Hudson, Plant Operator – Class 3
Curtis Whitman, Plant Operator
Jeff Cawley, Lab Analyst
Founded in 1932, GAWP is a not-for-profit association with a membership of more than 5,200.
