The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) earned another prestigious award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) for its quality treatment of wastewater. For the sixth straight year, DC Water's Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant was 100 percent compliant with its permit requirements.

The award comes in three categories: Platinum, Gold and Silver. DC Water is honored with the highest award - the Platinum Peak Performance Award -- for excellence in plant performance for an outstanding six-year record. Blue Plains not only meets, but exceeds, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Blue Plains is held to one of the most rigorous permits in the country.

"Year after year, Blue Plains continues to improve water quality in the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay," said DC Water General Manager George S. Hawkins. "Our customers should be proud that we're operating an award-winning plant on their behalf."

DC Water's 2014 NPDES permit will be even stricter. In anticipation of these requirements, the agency recently broke ground on a $950 million nitrogen-removal program. DC Water also has one of the most advanced research programs in the country and is at the forefront of improving technology for environmental protection.

At the same conference, George Hawkins was voted onto the NACWA Board of Directors, representing Region 3.

Hawkins accepted the Platinum Peak Performance Award July 20 in Chicago.