ABINGDON, Va. \u2013 For the fourth consecutive year, the Washington County Service Authority (WCSA) has been awarded the highest possible ranking in operations\/performance excellence for water utilities by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The WCSA\u2019s Middle Fork drinking water plant was one of 30 conventional water treatment plants (out of 131 in Virginia) that received a gold award following a 12-month analysis of data by the VDH Office of Drinking Water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Each year, through Virginia\u2019s Optimization Program, the VDH recognizes drinking water plants that perform above and beyond minimum standards \u2014 optimizing their treatment process \u2014 and running it efficiently and effectively. The primary purpose of the program is to reduce the risks to public health associated with drinking water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
WCSA\u2019s Middle Fork plant, along with 23 others statewide, earned a performance score of 20 in the judging criteria, with 20 being the highest possible score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA number one ranking means this water is three times cleaner than the standards require,\u201d says Charles Rest, VDH District Two engineer and chairman of the Virginia Optimization Program. \u201cWCSA is one of only 24 plants in the state that earned a perfect score.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mission of Virginia\u2019s Optimization Program is \u201cto encourage waterworks to provide water with a quality that exceeds minimum regulatory standards (i.e., as perfect as possible) and to operate water systems in an exemplary manner (i.e., as effective and functional as possible).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is an honor to have achieved this top-level performance score four years in a row,\u201d says Robbie Cornett, general manager of WCSA. \u201cOur goal is to always provide our customers with the highest-quality drinking water at the lowest possible cost, and this recognition affirms our commitment to that goal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over a period of time, through research and plant performance studies by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the American Waterworks Association and the waterworks industry, the VDH has developed performance goals for clarification and filtration processes in surface water treatment plants. For Virginia\u2019s Optimization Program, drinking water programs throughout the commonwealth submit monthly operation reports containing operational data. <\/p>\n\n\n\n