TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Peter D. Lear, CPA, CGMA, City Manager
TITLE: Presentation of the Water Environment Federation’s 2018 Water Heroes Award
Recommended Action
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Background Information
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a nonprofit technical and educational organization serving water quality professionals around the world. This international organization works to connect water professionals, enrich the expertise of water professionals, increase awareness of water’s impact and value, and provide a platform for water sector innovation.
It is with great honor and pride that North Port Utilities announces that it has been awarded the 2018 Water Heroes Award at the WEFTEC 2018 91st Annual Technical Exhibition & Conference (WEFTEC) in New Orleans. The Water Heroes Award recognizes individuals or municipalities who performed duties above and beyond the usual call of duty during an emergency situation to continue to protect the public and the environment. North Port Utilities has earned this prestigious award for its extraordinary efforts to maintain water and sewer services to the City during Hurricane Irma, in the face of inclement weather, flooding and continual rolling power outages throughout the City. In the first 48 hours of the storm’s wake, Utilities staff worked around the clock in 12-hour shifts (some working 24 hours) to perform damage assessments, maintain field communications, monitor and reallocate limited pumps and generators among the City’s 107 lift stations to maintain sewer operations. With rains continuing after the worst of the storm had passed, field crews worked in flooded areas around the clock, continually watching the weather, making repairs and monitoring City water and sewer systems with a diligent effort rarely seen or recognized, in municipal employees.
Strategic Plan
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Financial Impact
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Procurement
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Attachments:
1. 2018 WEF Water Heroes Award
Prepared by: Anna Duffey
Department Director: Rick Newkirk