Key West wins 2014 Plant Operations Excellence Award

Denver — The Florida Department of Environmental Protection recently selected the CH2M HILL-operated Key West Richard A. Heyman Wastewater Treatment Plant to receive its 2014 Plant Operations Excellence Award. The award is presented annually to facilities that demonstrate a commitment to excellence in management, operations, and maintenance.

CH2M HILL performed original facility design and construction management of the plant in 1988 and has since provided operations and maintenance services at the 10 million-gallon-per-day extended aeration activated sludge plant. In December 2013, CH2M HILL renewed the O&M agreement with the city for 5 years plus two 5-year options. In addition to the plant, the company maintains 57 miles of collection lines, 24 lift stations, the stormwater drainage system, including four pump-assisted injection wells, and biological nutrient removal systems.

“This award not only demonstrates Key West’s commitment to excellence but is a testament to a successful partnership between CH2M HILL and the City of Key West in protecting the fragile marine environment of the Florida Keys by changing how the city handled its wastewater,” says Steve Meininger, CH2M HILL Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Operations Management Services.

The award-winning facility also earned the Florida DEP Operations Excellence Award in 2012, 2009, and 2004, as well as numerous other industry awards for excellence in operational performance and safety.