Each year, the Rocky Mountain Section of the American Water Works Association (RMSAWWA) recognizes a treatment plant that exemplifies exceptional performance, dedication, and teamwork. The RMSAWWA Awards Committee issues the award annually to a facility that demonstrates exceptional performance in the categories of water quality, operational records, maintenance, professionalism, safety, public relations, and general outstanding achievements. Ute Water's Treatment Plant was announced as the 2020 recipient of the Outstanding Water Treatment Plant Award for utilities serving over 50,000 customers. The RMSAWWA Awards Committee Chair commended the Ute Water Treatment Plant for their exceptional credentials and commitment to the water industry.
Aside from their commitment to the industry, the staff of the Ute Water Treatment Plant have also recently been recognized for their commitment to optimization and the protection of public health. In 2019, Ute Water’s Treatment Plant was the recipient of the Partnership for Safe Water 15 Year Directors Award. The Directors Award is presented to water treatment facilities that demonstrate a commitment to public health through self-assessment, documented optimization efforts, and peer-reviewed performance in surpassing regulatory requirements for filtration. The Ute Water Treatment Plant has maintained the Directors Award status for fifteen years, an honor achieved by only 62 water utilities across the country at the time of the award.
In the pursuit of excellence, the Ute Water Treatment Plant has undergone significant facility improvements in recent years including pump station rehabilitations, pre-treatment facility upgrades, filter improvements, a motor control center replacement, security upgrades, automation upgrades, an extensive LED lighting retrofit, and many more. Additionally, the Ute Water Treatment Plant laboratory analyzes thousands of samples annually for a variety of contaminants and water quality parameters to help ensure regulatory compliance for the Ute Water Treatment Plant and a variety of regional public water systems and other community organizations.
"This award is simply the result of an entire staff committed to the philosophy of continuous improvement for the protection of public health," says Ben Hoffman, Treatment Plant Superintendent. "No matter the results of each day, we believe we can always do better tomorrow. When you pair a collective attitude with the support we receive from management, the board, and the other District's staff, success is inevitable."
