MILTON — Naval Air Station Whiting Field's water management team earned the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Plant Operations Excellence Award for the fifth consecutive year.
NAS Whiting Field competed in the small community category — facilities that serve less than 3,300 people — and the installation must maintain exceptional operations in all areas to earn the award.
The competition involved more than providing clean and safe water. Criteria to be eligible for the award included quality of water produced, facility operations and maintenance, recordkeeping and reporting, outstanding operation and maintenance practices and customer relations/acceptances of facility performance.
NAS Whiting Field implemented new designs that aided in water conservation and enhanced operation and maintenance practices. Its staffers focused on infrastructure to further water delivery and well efficiency.
Staffers’ emphasis on designing energy- and water-efficient buildings in-house will help decrease cost and further add an emphasis on the use of water-reductive technologies and methodologies in the design phase.
"The award shows that the water on NASWF has a history of excellence," stated Jon Croci, water manager of NAS Whiting Field.
Much praise for the award goes specifically to the water quality team from EML, the contractor on the base responsible for facilities maintenance. Eddie Wright and Ray Harper, the certified water-treatment plant operators, who oversee the water treatment site, are largely responsible for earning the continued recognition.
"Winning this award is amazing and really reflects the hard work our water operators and entire staff across the board have put in to reduce water usage around the base," Croci said.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: NAS Whiting Field's water quality team wins award