The Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority (WSA) brought home a wave of victories from the Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) Spring Conference in Columbus, earning honors in multiple categories. WSA’s all-star team, the “Water Dawgz”, competed in and captured the state’s first-ever Hydrant Hysteria championship. Bear Creek Water Treatment Plant was named Best Operated Water Plant of the Year.
Executive Director Gil Shearouse said it is an honor to be the winner of Georgia’s first-ever Hydrant Hysteria competition. He said the win not only showcases their talent, but also shows WSA as a leader in the state. He looks forward to cheering on the team as they represent the state of Georgia and compete at the national level.
“We are forever etched in stone,” said Shearouse. “We’re incredibly proud of our guys for winning this competition. Their hard work and teamwork perfectly reflect the excellence we strive for daily in serving our community.”
Hydrant Hysteria is a fast-paced competition in which a two-member team with a coach takes an unassembled hydrant and assembles it as fast and efficiently as possible, avoiding potential deductions. Representing WSA, Darius Bowen, Shondu Finch, and Alex Hawkins took the top spot, with a time of 2:40. With this win, they head to Denver to compete at the national level at the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Annual Conference and Exposition (ACE) in June. Systems Maintenance Manager Chip Butts also shared his excitement over the team’s win at the competition, noting how proud he was and excited for them to represent Georgia at the national level.
“This is an exciting win for our Water Dawgz Hydrant team,” Butts said. “We got our practice hydrant in late February, so they have put in a lot of work over the last two months.”
In other award news, Bear Creek Water Treatment Plant won the Best Operated Plant of the Year award for their category (15-24.99 MGD). According to the GAWP website, the award is given to recognize municipal water treatment facilities based on their size and all aspects of the facilities, such as safety, maintenance operations, documentation, lab operations, and industrial monitoring. The Bear Creek plant is no stranger to winning the Plant of the Year award, having won it last in 2022.
Water Operations Manager Mike Henry called winning the award a direct reflection of the plant staff’s exceptional dedication, expertise, and teamwork. He continued, noting that commitment to excellence in operations, compliance, and innovation ensures they consistently deliver safe, high-quality water to the Douglas County community.
“Receiving this award is truly an honor,” said Henry. “This award belongs to every individual who works tirelessly behind the scenes to make our plant a leader in the industry.”
Other awards WSA racked up at the conference include a Wastewater Facility Gold Award for the Northside Water Pollution Control Plant and a Wastewater Facility Platinum Award for the South Central Wastewater Plant. The Authority also received a Drinking Water Facility Platinum Award for the Bear Creek Water Treatment Plant. This award holds special meaning, as WSA has won this award for 27 years in a row. They are currently tied with Clayton County Water Authority, the only other water utility to achieve that record.
Next month, the Bear Creek Water Treatment Plant will welcome the community for its Spring Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 10. Guests can tour the award-winning plant, explore maintenance vehicles via a Touch-a-Truck experience, dive into hands-on STEM activities, and enjoy free ice-cold water from their H20-To-Go tank. Visitors can also test their skills at “Toilet Toss,” WSA’s playful twist on the classic game of cornhole. For more information on Spring Open House, you can call (770)920-3817 or visit their website at www.ddcwsa.com.
