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The James City Service Authority (JCSA) recently received a Virginia's Excellence in Waterworks Operations Award from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Office of Drinking Water for the protection of community drinking water.

The JCSA was recognized for demonstrating excellent practices and innovative ideas in its ability to provide reliable, safe drinking water to the public through its Cross-Connection Control Program, Emergency Response Operational Reliability Program, Public Education, Distribution System Management and Water Conservation Program. Gerald W. Peaks, P.E., Office of Drinking Water Director, presented the award to Beth Davis, JCSA Environmental Education Coordinator, on May 5 as part of National Drinking Water Week.

 

Cross-Connection Control Program - The JCSA has undertaken an inspection program, also called Backflow Prevention Program, for identifying and eliminating cross connections to the potable water supply.

 

Emergency Response Operational Reliability Program - The JCSA recently conducted vulnerability assessments to evaluate susceptibility from potential threats and identify corrective actions that can reduce or mitigate the risk of serious consequences from vandalism, sabotage, terrorist attacks and natural disasters.

 

Public Education - The JCSA is committed to providing outstanding customer service. Educating the public is valued as an important component for customer awareness in providing safe drinking water.

 

• Distribution System Management - The JCSA recently completed replacing its radio-telemetry monitoring system with a modern Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system by connecting all well facilities and sanitary sewer lift stations to a central computer using high speed communications systems.

 

• Water Conservation Program - The JCSA determined that an Outdoor Water Use Ordinance, an educational program called "Let's be Water Smart" and a citizen-based Water Conservation Committee were the most effective ways to address the challenge of meeting the future water needs of the community and preserving a limited natural resource.

 

Gerald W. Peaks, P.E., Office of Drinking Water Director (left) Beth Davis, JCSA Environmental Education Coordinator (right)	Front row from left to right: Beth Davis, Public Education & Water Conservation Program; Bruce Capps, Water Production Superintendent; George Adams, Emergency Response Operational Reliability Program Back row from left to right: Jim Hopkins, Distribution System Management; Mike Vergakis, Chief Water Engineer; John Wilson, Cross-Connection Control Program