Lake Arrowhead water treatment plant honored

The California Water Environment Association's Desert and Mountain Section awarded its "2008 Treatment Plant of the Year" award to the Lake Arrowhead Community Services District's Grass Valley Treatment Plant on Dec. 5.

It is the ninth time the facility has been honored since it began operating in 1988. Additionally, the plant received the "2008 Plant Safety Award" recognizing the culture of safety that resulted in a perfect safety record for the year.

Facilities that compete for this annual award are scored on facility accomplishments and innovations, regulatory compliance, training and safety, wastewater treatment process control, biosolids processes, maintenance strategy and efficiency, energy conservation, public relations and other criteria.

"I am very proud of the district's wastewater operations staff for another year of hard work, culminating in this well-earned recognition," said operation's manager Ken Nelsen.

Bob Bobik, wastewater operations supervisor, added, "This is the first time we've received the award for the fourth year in a row. It's quite an honor. We are also very proud of our culture of safety that has resulted in 2,869 days without a lost-time work injury at the plant. Given that staff routinely handles hazardous materials, our safety record has controlled a significant potential expense to the District."

SOURCE: California Water Environment Association news release