Casa Grande Receives Top Honors at AZ Water Association Conference
City Employee Named "Arizona Operator of the Year"
May 17, 2013
The City of Casa Grande once again received statewide recognition for its wastewater plant expansion project, this time from the Arizona Water Association. The City's Water Reclamation Facility was selected as the 2013 "Wastewater Treatment Plant of the Year - Small System" category. City employee Danny Allen was also recognized as the 2013 "Arizona Operator of the Year-Wastewater Collection-Small System" category. The awards were presented on May 1 during the 86th Annual Arizona Water Association Conference in Glendale.
Last year the City completed an expansion project at the Water Reclamation Facility located at 1194 W. Kortsen Road, which implemented several new stations and processing technologies that doubled wastewater capacity from 6 million gallons a day to 12 million gallons a day. The project, which cost $58 million dollars, was financed by the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA). WIFA previously awarded the expansion project the 2012 "Clean Water Project of the Year" in February.
"We're honored to receive this award and thank everyone who was involved in the expansion project," said Public Works Director Kevin Louis. "We especially thank our wastewater staff for their hard work in coordinating the expansion while still providing service to our residents."
Award recipient Danny Allen has worked for the City of Casa Grande for over 4 years as a wastewater treatment plant operator. He is responsible for overseeing all wastewater collection operations, including regulating and maintaining the system flow of the collection systems and lift stations. He also inspects and cleans the collection system and collects water samples for tests, as well as manage the City's small water company on the west side of the city limits. Allen was nominated for the award by Legend Technical Services, Inc., a company that provides environmental workshops for organizations.
AZ Water Association selection committee member Mark Martinez said, "Danny stood out as somebody who is exceptional as far as everything that he does and his willingness to help whenever there are problems."
Casa Grande Public Works Director Kevin Louis praised Allen by saying, "Danny is a great employee because he takes ownership in every task he is assigned. His passion for learning and the level of positive energy he brings with him to his job pays off in exceptional work quality and quantity."
Fellow co-worker Jay Mull also lauded Allen for his award. "My greatest appreciation of Danny is that he has stepped up and taken on more responsibilities with commitment and I have found him to be someone that I can depend on," said Mull.
Allen is professionally certified in wastewater and water treatment, collections, and water distribution. He was born and raised in Casa Grande, where he lives with his family.
The AZ Water Association awards are presented to individuals and facilities that have sustained notable outstanding service in the categories pertaining to water, wastewater, collections and distribution in small and large communities. Award recipients are selected based on their involvement and knowledge in operations, new technology and participation in a team environment and positive attitude. To learn more about the AZ Water Association, visit
www.azwater.org
Source: http://www.casagrandeaz.gov/web/guest/news#dannyallen
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