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SouthWest Water Company Recognized for Exemplary Contract Operations in California

The wastewater treatment plant the company operates for the Mountain House Community Services District in California was named Plant of the Year by CWEA's Northern San Joaquin Valley section. The award highlights the operating team's ability to maintain the plant's permit requirements throughout periods of extensive repairs required to troubleshoot existing construction design issues. The plant is designed to reclaim up to 3 million gallons per day (MGD) of residential, commercial and industrial wastewater and utilizes Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR) technology to achieve strict effluent requirements.

CWEA's Northern Sacramento Valley section bestowed its Plant of the Year Award to a wastewater treatment plant the company operates for the City of Willows. The award praises the plant's operating team for having zero safety and compliance violations and for maintaining all mandatory reporting and the facility itself in an exemplary condition. The tertiary, conventional activated sludge wastewater treatment plant can treat up to a peak flow of 2 MGD and serves a community of about 6,200 residents. The SouthWest Water team operates the plant in a safe and efficient manner, meeting all waste discharge permits and producing an effluent that is recycled for irrigation of local farms. This is the second year in a row this team has won the Plant of the Year award.

The same CWEA chapter also selected the Company's contract with the City of Corning as the Safety Agency of the Year, highlighting its strong safety record with no lost time incidents, twice-a-month training sessions, up-to-date records, equipment inspections and strong standard operating procedures.

The chapter also distinguished two SouthWest Water employees: District Manager Kathy Stone was presented with Supervisor of the Year Award and Facility Manager Jerry Stephens with Inspirational Operator of the Year Award. Stone, a certified wastewater professional and a SouthWest Water veteran of more than 20 years, oversees all company's water and wastewater operations and certified laboratories in California. Nominated by her staff, Stone is called a visionary leader, knowledgeable supervisor and a caring teacher who guides her staff to great performance. Stephens runs a wastewater treatment plant the company operates under contract for the City of Red Bluff and was commended for volunteering his time at various chapter events and going above and beyond the call of duty.

"Congratulations to our team on these merit awards!" said SouthWest Water's Managing Director of Operations and Maintenance Chris Malinowski. "We are proud of being recognized for the high standard of operation excellence that exists at SouthWest Water Company."

CWEA is dedicated to enhancing the education and effectiveness of California's wastewater professionals and to being the premier wastewater industry association in California.

About SouthWest Water

SouthWest Water Company provides a broad range of operations, maintenance and management services, including water production, treatment and distribution; wastewater collection and treatment; customer service; and utility infrastructure construction management. The company owns regulated utilities and also serves cities, utility districts and private companies under contract. More than a million people in 9 states depend on SouthWest Water for high-quality, reliable service. Additional information may be found on the company's website: www.swwc.com.

SouthWest Water Company
Ken Dix
Vice President, General Counsel
213-929-1824
www.swwc.com