March 12, 2014 is Georgia’s
“Thank a Water Professional” Day!
Today – March 12, 2014 – has been designated as “Thank a Water Professional” Day by the Georgia General Assembly in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Georgia Water Quality Control Act and the contributions Georgia’s water professionals make every day in the care and improvement of the state’s water resources. The resolution also commends the Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) and the Georgia Rural Water Association (GRWA).
At Dalton Utilities, our “water professionals” work in the following areas of service: water treatment & distribution, wastewater collection & treatment and stormwater management. Employees in each of these service areas hold professional certifications from the State of Georgia and are required to participate in training every year to stay current. For instance, our water/wastewater operators have three levels of certification with Class One being the highest. Of Dalton Utilities’ 45 water and wastewater operators, 35 hold Class One certifications, one holds a Class Two certification, and six hold Class Three certifications. Three new employees are in the process of becoming certified.
At Dalton Utilities, our many water, wastewater and stormwater professionals provide service to our customers 24 hours a day – seven days a week. As stated in our Guiding Principles, “we will recognize our employees as our greatest asset and make their safety Priority One.” These employees work tirelessly to provide our customers with clean drinking water, manage wastewater and stormwater and protect our natural resources. Their dedication is shown through the numerous recognition and awards we have received for our water, wastewater and stormwater operations:
GAWP (Georgia Association of Water Professionals) Platinum Award for 15 consecutive years of excellence in plant operations for all Dalton Utilities’ water treatment plants (1999-2013)
GAWP Platinum Award (1999-2008) and Gold Award (2010 – 2013) for excellence in plant operations for all Dalton Utilities’ wastewater treatment plants and Land Application System
GAWP Water Distribution System of the Year (2004, 2006, 2008)
GAWP Wastewater Collection System of the Year (2004 & 2006)
GAWP Water Treatment Plant of the Year (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 & 2012)
GAWP Wastewater Treatment Plant of the Year (2005, 2006, 2008, 2010,2011, 2012* & 2013) * two awards in same year
GAWP Top Op Award – Wastewater (2004)
GAWP Top Op Award – Water (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 & 2011)
GAWP Best Consumer Confidence Report (2006, 2008 & 2010)
GAWP Public Education Award (2008)
GAWP Laboratory Quality Assurance at a Drinking Water Laboratory (2005 & 2007)
GAWP Laboratory Quality Assurance at Municipal Wastewater Laboratory (2006)
GAWP Drinking Water Taste Test Winner – (2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013)
GAWP Volunteer Service Award – Bronze Level (2008 & 2009)
GAWP Ira C. Kelley Laboratory Excellence Award – David White (2013)
So a huge THANKS to all those professionals who make our community work by providing the water, wastewater and stormwater services needed by local residents and businesses each day!
Watershed Management:
Leslie Rush
Don Johnson
Ben Kinsey
Charlie Morrow
Steve Bratton
Engineering
(Mapping/Inspectors):
Allen Peters
Alicia Marvin
Judy Pruitt
Chris Bollwerk
Gary Poff
TJ Lawson
Jamie Langley
Brandon Jones
Regulatory:
David Oxford
Jeremy Peden
Brian Harrison
Jason Walker
Russell Witherow
Caleb Martin
Phillip Pfeifer
Seth Lassitter
Laboratory:
David White
Brian Mashburn
Steve Bailey
Lem Henderson
Robert Ledford
Shon Akins
Landau Kitchens
Tim Witt
Water Plants:
Ed Stanley
Bruce Blackwell
Mike King
Greg Collins
Jason Garland
Keith Collins
Terry Dilbeck
Dan Findlay
Rob Campbell
Jamie Cox
Clarence Dodson
Rocky Wallingford
Dale Stanley
Gene Peters
Scott Moody
Garry Oliver
Micha Cartledge
Matt Warner
Water Distribution:
Michael Miracle
Daniel Cooper
Jeff Cowles
William England
Dewayne Fisher
Hunter Hall
Freddie Kennett
Frank Kovach
Thomas Lunsford
Kyle Massengill
Jonathan McIntosh
Todd Miller
David Condra
Tim Richards
Wastewater Plants:
Jim Shafer
Kenny Stokes
Jeff McNeeley
Ryan Andrews
Jerry Tackett
Eric Walker
Paul Dodson
Danny Mathis
Leroy Terry
Jeff Lowrance
Joe Tankersley
Jeff Vineyard
John Burgess
Terry Moody
Jonathan Raburn
Loren Herod
Colby Bryant
Zerek Gill
Chad Bartlett
Wesley Harp
Wastewater Collection:
Gary Hill
Chad Crowe
Brandon Harrison
Tobie Burke
Derrick Johnson
James Nelms
Eric Ridley
Josh Roberts
Land Application System:
Kevin Young
Rick Bolton
Bo Carnes
Chris Coker
Bobby Defore
Chris Dodson
David Green
Mark Hall
Jeremy Locke
Bruce Parrott
Jeremy Stafford
Cody Bain
Josh McCurdy
Solids Handling:
Jerome Akins
Chris Owens
Ron King
Justin Porter
Ezekiel Nelson
Ken Helton
Chad Roberts
Johnny Gray
Service Crew:
Buddy Ash
Scott Edwards
Sandy Fuller
Shannon Hammontree
Darrel Hulett
Tim Thrasher
For more information about our water, wastewater and stormwater operations: