Albany utilities lab honored with Georgia Association of Water Professionals platinum award

The Georgia Association of Water Professionals presented an award recognizing the City of Albany utilities laboratory for five consecutive years of perfect regulatory compliance.

The association’s presenter, identified in the meeting as Mr. Anthony of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals, told the utility board on Feb. 27 that the group’s lab committee “is really the heart of the safety practices, the QAQC” and that to earn the award “you have to be 100% in compliance.” He said the laboratory’s record earned the city a platinum award, which the association gives after five consecutive years of perfect compliance.

The award recognizes routine laboratory functions that test and confirm water quality and regulatory compliance. City speakers singled out Adam Winters, who the board said runs day-to-day lab operations. “His meticulous attention to detail … ensures that the customers are safe in the city of Albany,” a city official said during the meeting.

Utility board members and city officials thanked the lab staff and the Georgia Association of Water Professionals for the program that certifies and inspects operators across the state. Board members called the lab employees “unsung heroes” and noted that labs both detect contaminants and trigger alerts that protect drinking-water customers.

The association presenter described the organization’s statewide certification and education role and said it will recognize additional water professionals at upcoming conferences.

City officials said the award reflects work that benefits Albany’s roughly 70,000 residents by helping ensure safe potable water and maintaining infrastructure for fire protection and other services.