GCWW Named Top Water Utility, Among Nations Best

Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) will receive the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) Platinum Award for Utility Excellence today. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in implementing nationally recognized Attributes for Effectively Managed Water Sector Utilities.

AMWA cited the following achievements by GCWW as reasons for the national award:

• A 240-mgd (million gallons per day) Ultraviolet Disinfection Treatment Facility. GCWW will be the largest water utility in North America to use UV disinfection following sand filtration and granular activated carbon adsorption when the facility is operational in early 2013.
• Twin AAA ratings by both Standard & Poor's and Moody's.
• Partnership with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in its national Water Security Initiative. GCWW can now proactively detect and respond to potential water contamination events.

"GCWW has a long history of being a leader in the water utility industry," said Biju George, GCWW's interim director. "This award is a reflection of GCWW’s strategic business planning, financial viability and sound management practices and continues our legacy of excellence that began about 150 years ago."

"AMWA awards recognize the extraordinary performance of water agencies where management, vision and employee commitment create a sustainable utility producing ample supplies of clean, safe drinking water," said AMWA President James McDaniel. "The communities served by these award winners should be proud of the accomplishments of their forward-thinking, exceptionally well-managed public utilities."

AMWA's award criteria were developed by a panel of respected water and wastewater utility executives, commissioned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, AMWA and other water industry associations.

GCWW provides a plentiful supply of the highest quality water to 1.1 million people in parts of Hamilton, Butler, Warren and Clermont Counties in Ohio and Boone County, Kentucky.