EPA lauds two Hernando water systems

By KATHERINE BLOK

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 9, 2000

BROOKSVILLE -- Two Hernando County water systems have been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for being in "extreme compliance" with requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

The Royal Oaks Water Plant was named best small water system, and the East Hernando Water System was named the best medium-sized groundwater system in the EPA region that includes Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky. This is the second time the East Hernando system has won the medium-size system award, having been recognized in 1992 in the same category. In 1994, the Lindsay Acres Water System was named the region's best small system.

Royal Oaks has about 65 customers in the subdivision of the same name off Yontz Road, while East Hernando serves about 3,000 customers in Talisman Estates, Whispering Oaks, Riverdale and the Ridge Manor and Ridge Manor West areas.

The Safe Drinking Water Act Excellence Awards are given by the EPA regional office in Atlanta, said Hernando Utilities Department Director Kay Adams. Plaques for the Utilities Department and certificates for water system employees will be awarded during a ceremony next week, she said.

The county was encouraged to apply by state Department of Environmental Protection inspectors and had to submit a lengthy application to the DEP. State officials then forwarded its recommendations to the EPA regional office, Adams said.

According to the EPA, the awards are given to facilities that have had no contaminant violations in the past three years, as well as for clean and well-maintained facilities, innovative management practices and timely responses to customer inquiries.

The lack of violations for the Royal Oaks and East Hernando systems is "pretty significant," said Jennifer Gardner, outreach education coordinator for the drinking water section of the regional EPA office. Under the federal drinking water law, every water system in the United States must periodically test drinking water for microbiological, radiological, inorganic and organic contaminants, Adams said.

Based on comments made by judges during the selection process, Gardner said the East Hernando system "established and maintained an excellent operation, maintenance record and excellent customer service." The Royal Oaks system "demonstrated an excellent facility operation, maintenance record, excellent customer service," Gardner said.

There are five categories of water systems: small, medium groundwater, medium surface water, large groundwater and large surface water, she said.

Adams said the Utilities Department submitted the East Hernando system for review because a new well recently was added to it, which increased its water supply. The Royal Oaks system was submitted because it has been improved and upgraded to be more reliable since the county bought the system a few years ago, she said.

"I'm as proud as I can be," Adams said of her department's achievements. "The people we have working in this department are very dedicated. They take a great deal of pride in their work and it shows ... It's nice to see them recognized and it's a big honor."

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