Charlotte County Utilities (CCU)
Awards and Recognition
2015
 Rotonda WRF Chief Plant Operator, John McGinnis, was
presented with the 2015 Public Education Award – Thomas T.
Jones Plaque by the Florida Water Environment Association
(FWEA) for the achievement of an individual promoting
environmental awareness and public outreach. The award
presented at the FWEA Awards Luncheon on May 5, 2015 in
Orlando.
J. McGinnis receiving the Thomas T. Jones Award by Juile Karleskint,
Member of FWEA at Charlotte County Board Meeting
2014

Rotonda Water Reclamation Facility received the Earle B. Phelps Award by the FWEA acknowledging
wastewater treatment facilities which have maintained the highest removal of major pollutioncausing constituents prior to discharge.

December 2014, Charlotte County Utilities employees
competed in the American Water Works Association Rodeo.
The competition tests speed, agility and accuracy
maneuvering heavy equipment. Josh Rizzuto finished 2nd
Place, and Josh Reynoso finished 3rd place. Mike Catalano
receives an honorable mention.

The May 9, 2014 issue of the Port Charlotte Herald featured an article
about Charlotte County Rotonda’s high tech water reclamation process.
Educational tours are setup yearly for CCU customers to learn about how
wastewater is treated. CCU has reprint permission from Sun Herald.
Read the entire article.
2013
 The November 2013 issue of Water System Operator magazine
featured an article about Charlotte County Burnt Store Reverse
Osmosis treatment Plant titled “Ready For Growth”. Automation,
high-end technology and dedicated staff have the Burnt Store plant
prepared for the next boom in local construction. Read entire
article.

From Left: Mike Catalano, Bo Reynoso, Josh Rizzuto
From left: customers J. Rask and D. Danielson
with John McGinnis, Rotonda Chief Operator
The Burnt Store crew includes from left, Kevin French,
Tod Avers, Paul Sugg and Ben Jacobson
Burnt Store WRF staff was presented with a safety award by the Florida Water &
Pollution Control Operators Association (FW&PCOA) in recognition of their
outstanding safety practices and proven safety record. The award was
presented to CCU staff at the state award banquet on August 13, 2013 in Fort
Pierce.
Pictured: Burnt Store WRF staff Jim Thompson
 Wastewater collections staff wins the Wastewater Collection System
Award in recognition of outstanding performance and professionalism
in the water environment industry. The Florida Water Environment
Association (FWEA) presented CCU the award at the annual Florida
Water Resources Conference on April 29, 2013 in Orlando.
Pictured from left to right: Utility Collections Foremen
Lloyd Eason, Charlie Rine and Bruce Schnellinger
2012

Burnt Store Treatment Plant wins the Plant Operations Excellence
Award in recognition of outstanding treatment plant operation,
maintenance, and compliance. The Florida Department of
Environmental Protection Agency (FDEP) presented CCU the certificate
at an awards ceremony, December 6, 2012 in Tallahassee.
Pictured from left to right: Mark Thomasson, FDEP
Director of Water Resources Management Division and
Ben Jacobsen, Burnt Store WRF Chief Plant Operator

West Port Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) staff
was presentedwith a safety award by the Florida
Water & Pollution Control Operators Association
(FW&PCOA) in recognition of their outstanding
safety practices and proven safety record. The
award was presented to CCU staff at the state
award banquet on August 15, 2012 in Fort Pierce.
Additional West Port staff instrumental in winning the award are
Richard McLaughlin, Patrick Platt and
former WP WRF Chief Operator John Thompson.
Pictured from left to right: West Port WRF staff Michael
McCullough, Tom Cimino and Ismael Garcia
2011

Water Distribution employees were recognized with a
proclamation by Charlotte Board of County Commissioners
(Board) on January 25, 2011 for their support in repairing a
water leak at Gasparilla Marina and providing aid to citizens
affected on Christmas Eve.
Pictured: Utilities Director, Terri Couture, with Water Distribution Staff
2010

Operations division was recognized with an outstanding Water
Distribution Service Award by the Florida Section of American
Water Works Association (AWWA). CCU’s victory was announced
at AWWA awards ceremony in Orlando on Dec 1st among all
Division VI utilities serving between 46,000 and 69,999
connections. The winner is selected for outstanding performance
and includes performance standards such as water quality,
recordkeeping, system maintenance, professionalism, safety,
emergency preparedness and cross connection control. AWWA
presented CCU with a plaque at January 11, 2011 Board Meeting.
Pictured from left to right: Steve Kipfinger, Water
Distribution Superintendent; Jamie Huish, Operations
Manager and AWWA Chair-elect, Rick Ratcliffe

Received QualServe Self-Assessment and Peer Review plaque in April by the
Florida Section of AWWA and the Water Environmental Federation (WEF).
QualServe is a voluntary, continuous improvement program for water and
wastewater utilities to take strides to improve overall operations and to
enhance the services provided to customers. A Peer Review team consisting
of three (3) water and wastewater professionals conducted on-site
interviews, visited various CCU facilities and reviewed utility processes,
procedures and information management systems. The team then prepared
a report with findings on “Strengths” and “Opportunities for Improvement”
in order to be the “Best-in-Class”. Presentations of those findings were
presented to the Board on May 25, 2010.
2009

CCU wins the annual Best Tasting Drinking Water Taste Test in Region X by the
Florida Section AWWA on March 13, 2009. Region X represents drinking water
utilities in five counties: Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Manatee and Sarasota. All
Region X water utilities were invited to submit a two-liter sample of their
drinking water to be tested by a panel of five impartial judges. The annual
Drinking Water Taste Test is intended to educate consumers about waterrelated issues and raise awareness about water conservation.
2008

Plant Operations Excellence Award in recognition of outstanding
treatment plant operation, maintenance, and compliance at CCU Burnt
Store Water Treatment Plant by the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection Agency.

Excellence in Marketing & Communications MarCom Award for Charlotte
County Utilities 2007 Annual Report, produced by CCU and PB Americas. We
received recognition for the following categories:
 Platinum(highest honor), Overall Annual Report
 Gold, Writing/Annual Report
 Gold, Design/Annual Report Cover
2006

In February, CCU Won the Best Tasting Drinking Water Taste Test, hosted by the FL Section of the
AWWA, Region X. In March, CCU staff traveled to Tallahassee, Fla. with a sample of their awardwinning water to compete in the statewide Drinking Water Taste Test, part of National Drinking
Water Day. CCU faced two judging panels and placed third overall, surpassing hundreds of public
and private utilities throughout the state of Florida. CCU is proud to offer its customers safe, clean
and award-winning drinking water.

CCU places 2nd in the Top Ops Competition at the 81st Annual Florida Water
Resources Conference at the Orange County Convention Center. This
competition is a jeopardy-like test of speed and knowledge and is only open
to Water Plant Operators. CCU’s team was represented by Louis Agarrat
(Booster Stations Chief Operator) and James Bovis (Burnt Store Chief
Operator) wore blue t-shirts and were named Charlotte Chiefs.