The Florida Department of Environmental Regulation has notified the city's utilities commission that its Glencoe Road water treatment plant won the Best Publicly Owned Water Plant award for 1986.
The award, which is for the Central Florida district, was based on a state inspection and a self-evaluation by the plant's professional staff. Water quality was a major factor in the determination, officials said.
Water processed at the plant meets or exceeds all state and federal health standards, including bacteria count and chemical content. The water has excellent aesthetic qualities such as appearance and taste, inspectors said.
Rating standards also cover housekeeping, certification, public relations, maintenance, emergency operation, records and reporting, management, professionalism, training and safety. The plant received very high marks in these areas as well, officials said.
The plant also won the award in 1980, 1981 and 1984 but was ineligible for the competition in 1982 and 1985 after receiving the honor the previous years. New Smyrna Beach's plant was in competition with water plants of all sizes in the district, which includes Brevard, Indian River, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties.