City of Atlanta

Department of Watershed Management

Press Release

June 8, 2009 — The National Association of City Water Agencies (NACWA), an organization of publicly owned wastewater treatment plants, focused on clean Water and associated environmental policies, will present the City of Atlanta with a Platinum Peak Performance Award, the highest honor it bestows, at its July 15 Summer Conference and Annual Meeting.  The award recognizes the Utoy Water Reclamation facility for 10 years of compliance with federal water pollution standard.

Water reclamation centers operate under federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulations.   To receive a Platinum Award, a facility must have no NPDES violations over 10 straight years.

Built in 1936, the Utoy Water Reclamation Center (WRC) treats an average of 44 million gallons of wastewater daily for discharge into the Chattahoochee River.

"We are grateful to NACWA for recognizing the Utoy WRC for excellent performance over the last decade," Commissioner Rob Hunter said.  "We are proud of the Watershed employees who made this happen.   Awards like this reflect our ongoing commitment to providing the cleanest possible rivers and streams for Atlantans and our downstream neighbors."

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The Department of Watershed Management provides drinking water and wastewater collection and treatment services to more than 1 million people over a 650-square-mile area.

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