Powers Authority earns kudos

COAST CITIES — The San Elijo Joint Powers Authority has received two awards, including the Small Plant of the Year and Safety Program of the Year from the San Diego Section of the California Water Environment Association, or CWEA.
The CWEA, a not-for-profit association of 8,000-plus professionals in the wastewater industry, honors its top members and wastewater professionals for their outstanding achievements in the wastewater field.
SEJPA’s Water Reclamation facility was named 2009 Small Plant of the Year for its dedication to innovative practices, cost effectiveness, superior plant operations, and
environmental compliance. The CWEA award for Safety Plant of the Year is given to a wastewater agency that provides the resources, plans, and corporate culture necessary to safely run an industrial facility that is filled with potential hazards. In addition to a spotless injury report record, in-depth safety training, and a culture of safety that pervades all levels of staff, the SEJPA maintains exemplary emergency plans and practices. The SEJPA just celebrated more than nine years without a lost-day accident.
SEJPA General Manager Michael Thornton said the awards recognize the agency’s dedication to the welfare of the community and the protection of the environment. The San Elijo Joint Powers Authority protects the water quality of the ocean by treating and disposing of wastewater for the Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe and Cardiff communities. SEJPA oversees the San Elijo Water Reclamation Facility on the north side of the San Elijo Lagoon in Cardiff-by-the-Sea.