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Palm Bay Wastewater Collection Best In Florida

By  //  September 15, 2012

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PALM BAY CITY NEWS

BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – The Palm Bay Utilities Department has been named Wastewater Collection System of the Year by the Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA).

Jason Yarborough, Utilities Director; Bob Hinkel, Distribution and Collections Division Manager; Teresa Wever, Water Distribution Superintendent; and, members of the Water Distribution Section accepted the award on behalf of the Palm Bay Utilities Department. (For SpaceCoastDaily.com)

This award is presented annually to recognize the important role collection systems play within the community and to honor those who have made an exceptional effort to properly manage, operate, and maintain their wastewater collection system.

Applicants were judged on best maintenance practices of a wastewater collection system, implementation of innovative programs, provision of adequate funding for the collection system for its long-term sustainability, excellent regulatory compliance, emergency response capability, certification and training of staff, and significant improvements in the area of infiltration and inflow.

260 Miles of Gravity Sewer

Utilities Department Also Recognized Nationally for Safety: For the second year in a row, the Palm Bay Utilities Department was recognized by the United Safety Council (USC) for its commitment to safety. Awards were presented at the USC’s 59th Annual Safety Awards Banquet held in Orlando on January 13, 2012. The local water and wastewater utility received a Gold Safety Achievement Award in the small company category which includes private and public companies from across the nation with 500 employees or less. The gold designation is the highest recognition given by the USC in this category, and it is presented to companies that excel in the following areas: safety committee activity, senior management commitment, employee involvement, written safety and health programs, inspection programs, and mishap investigation. (For SpaceCoastDaily.com)

The City of Palm Bay’s sanitary sewer collection system consists of 260 miles of gravity sewer force mains and 101 lift stations that help move wastewater from the customer’s residence to the wastewater treatment plant.

Currently, the city services 14,997 wastewater accounts.

“The collection system crew sees their contributions as part of the ‘bigger picture’ and they look for ways to be proactive and encourage sustainability, which often results in cost savings for our organization and added value for customers,” said Bob Hinkel, distribution and collections division manager.

The Wastewater Collection System of the Year Award was presented to the City of Palm Bay at the Florida Water Resources Conference  in Orlando.

About the Florida Water Environment Association

The Florida Water Environment Association is an organization of water professionals committed to making advancements in public education, professional development, and public policy for matters related to Florida’s water environment.

For more information about the Palm Bay Utilities Department log on to PBUDbud.org or call 321-952-3410.