Westport Wastewater Treatment Plant Acknowledged for Excellence

The City of Port St. Lucie’s Westport Wastewater Treatment Facility has received the Earle B. Phelps Award from the Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA) for its success in pollutant removal.

Each year, FWEA bestows a first place, runner up, and honorable mention level award to advanced secondary treatment facilities that have maintained the highest level of pollutant removal possible.  During a recent presentation ceremony at the annual Florida Water Resources Conference in Tampa, Port St. Lucie received this year’s first place award. 

The FWEA criteria for the Earle B. Phelps Awards encourage competition and participation by similarly designed and sized facilities throughout Florida.  Past first place winners have included facilities such as: the City of St. Petersburg’s Southwest Water Reclamation Facility; Clay County Utility Authority’s Fleming Island Regional WWTF; and Orange County’s South WWTP.

During the judging, the FWEA awards committee reviewed Westport’s regulatory operating permits, and a year’s worth of daily reports and monthly Florida Department of Environmental Protection Agency (FDEP) operating reports to determine percentage levels removal pollutant removal.

The FWEA is the Florida Member Association of the international Water Environment Federation WEF, which is a not-for-profit educational and technical organization of 40,000 water quality experts worldwide.  Members are committed to the preservation and enhancement of the global water environment. 

On another commendable note about the Westport facility, Plant Operator John Lamb was the top performer in the entire state for the February 2008 FDEP Wastewater “A” Exam.   This is a noteworthy honor, considering the exam only had a 52.2 percent passing rate.

For more information, contact:
Donna Rhoden
Public Information Manager
Utility Systems Department
(772) 873-6400