The utility recently received two top awards in the Florida Water Environment Association's annual competition to judge the best wastewater treatment plants in the state. In another contest, sponsored by the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association, the Lake Park Water Treatment Plant was named the best plant in its class in the state. And a team of Water Resource Division plant operators put their heads together for a place finish in the association's "Top Ops" brain bowl competition.

The most recent recognition includes:

* Earle B. Phelps Awards, sponsored by the Florida Water Environment Association - first place in the Advanced Waste Treatment category, to the Northwest Regional Water Reclamation Facility, and Honorable Mention in the same category to the River Oaks Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant.

This is the fifth time in as many years that the Northwest wastewater plant has taken home the perpetual trophy that goes with the top award in its category, or placed as runner-up. The plant treats an average of 6.5 million gallons of wastewater a day.

The River Oaks plant, on Sheldon Road, treats an average of 8.5 million gallons of wastewater a day.

The plants serve such communities as Westchase, Carrollwood, Northdale and Citrus Park

* Outstanding Water Treatment Awards, American Water Works Association, Florida Section - Best in Class, Lake Park Water Treatment Plant.

The Lake Park plant provides 8 million gallons of drinking water a day to 184,000 residents in Carrollwood, Northdale and other neighborhoods along the Dale Mabry corridor of northwest Hillsborough County. The plant, which serves up a blend of water from wells and Tampa Bay Water's regional supply system, received a Plant Operations Excellence Award from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection last year.

* A second-place finish for Water Resource Division's team in the American Water Works Association Florida Section's "Tops Ops" 2010 competition. The contest quizzes teams of water plant operators in a brain bowl format to test their knowledge on topics ranging from drinking water standards to pumps and hydraulics.

The "ChloraMean Team" included Jennifer Mason, Kevin Kraujalis and Harry Williams, operators at the Lake Park water plant. The team name is a play on "chloramines," which is used to make untreated water safe to drink.