News Releases

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Marq Caughell
mcaughell@tampabaywater.org
(727) 791-2315

CLEARWATER, Fla. (Feb. 11, 2020) — Tampa Bay Water is proud to announce that its Tampa Bay Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant received a 2019 Drinking Water Plant Operations Excellence Award from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). The award is given in recognition of outstanding treatment plant operation, maintenance and compliance.

Representatives from Tampa Bay Water and Veolia Water North America, which operates the plant as part of a public-private partnership, were on-hand to accept the award at the Florida Rural Water Association’s annual seminar series on Feb. 4, 2020 in Haines City.

“This award is a testament to the value of public-private partnerships in the water industry and to Tampa Bay Water and Veolia’s commitment to serve the Tampa Bay area with high-quality drinking water in an environmentally sustainable manner,” said Chuck Carden, general manager for Tampa Bay Water.

The Tampa Bay Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant has been providing the region with high-quality drinking water since September 2002, when it became the first alternative water supply built to serve local governments that had traditionally relied on groundwater for drinking water. It can treat up to 120 million gallons of water per day and uses water from the Tampa Bypass Canal and the Hillsborough and Alafia rivers. It also sends treated water for storage in the 15.5-billion-gallon C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir for use during dry times.

FDEP has the primary role of regulating public water systems in the state. The department presents annual awards to drinking water and domestic wastewater facilities around the state that demonstrate excellence in operation, maintenance, innovative treatment, waste reduction and pollution prevention, recycling or other special achievements. These awards recognize facilities that demonstrate a special commitment to excellence in management through dedicated professionalism.

To learn more about the Tampa Bay Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant, its treatment processes or to request a tour, visit www.tampabaywater.org/tampa-bay-regional-river-water-treatment-plant.

ABOUT TAMPA BAY WATER

Tampa Bay Water is the largest wholesale water supplier in Florida, providing high-quality drinking water to its members, who in turn, supply water to more than 2.5 million residents of the Tampa Bay area. Tampa Bay Water member governments include the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa, and the counties of Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas. To learn more, visit tampabaywater.org