HCWA Tussahaw Plant selected Best of the Best in its class in Georgia Water Authority brings home five awards from spring industry conference

The Henry County Water Authority (HCWA) boasts the Best Operated Water Plant of its kind in Georgia, according to judges of the Georgia Section of the American Water Works Association (GAWWA). This is the fifth time the Tussahaw Plant has been voted best in the state since it opened in 2007.

This GAWWA Plant of the Year Award – for surface water facilities with 15-25 million gallons per day (MGD) of treatment capacity – was one of five industry honors the Authority received during the recent Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) Spring Conference & Expo held in Dalton.

The HCWA also received a Certificate of Achievement for Best Operated Water Plant for the Towaliga Water Treatment Plant, which is the equivalent of an honorable mention in the Plant of the Year competition.

In addition, the HCWA received the GAWP Education Program of Excellence Award, while the Authority’s Spencer Lauderdale received the District 3 Wastewater Collections Top Operator Award and Brett Howard was honored as the District 3 Wastewater Top Operator of the Year.

“These awards represent the dedication, expertise, and hard work our team brings to the profession every day while serving our community,” said Tony Carnell, HCWA General Manager, following the awards luncheon at the GAWP Spring Conference.

As a five-time GAWP Plant of the Year, the HCWA Tussahaw Plant last won this award in 2024, in addition to being selected as the best plant in the state in 2021, 2016, and 2011. According to Authority officials, this is quite the accomplishment considering water plants are not eligible to repeat as Plant of the Year winners the year after being selected for this honor.

The Plant of the Year Award is presented annually, recognizing municipal water treatment facilities that have been operated in an outstanding manner, with categories based on a facility’s treatment capacity. This award is given to the best operated plant as determined by a cumulative score from industry judges who grade the facility’s safety, maintenance, operations, documentation, laboratory, regulatory compliance, industrial monitoring, and more.

“To receive the Plant of the Year Award, the Tussahaw Plant operations were fully inspected and scored on a 100-point system and ranked ‘first place’ against other plants of similar size and complexity, so this is a well-operated facility that produces excellent quality drinking water, which Henry County water customers can rely on,” said Pam Burnett, GAWP Executive Director. “As an award-winning facility, the Tussahaw Plant and the water professionals who operate it are held in high regard and inspire others to achieve this level of recognition, benefitting their own communities across the state.”

The HCWA Towaliga Plant, in addition to receiving a Certificate of Achievement for Best Operated Water Plant this year, is a past Plant of the Year Award winner as well, bringing home the ‘best operated’ honor in 2015 and 2019. Thus, both of the Authority’s water treatment facilities have been recognized as the best of the best in Georgia since they began operations.

The HCWA received the Education Program of Excellence Award in the category of water conservation/water supply. This award recognizes those utilities and organizations who plan and implement superior public education programs.

As Top Operators, Lauderdale, who is a Foreman in the HCWA Sewer Line Maintenance Department, and Howard, who is a Class 1 HCWA Water Reclamation Plant Operator, were recognized for excelling in their duties, while setting positive examples and serving as mentors to others. A Class 1 Operator is the highest certification attainable for operators in the state.





(L to R) GAWP President Gary McCoy presents the Plant of the Year Award to the HCWA Tussahaw Water Plant, represented by Plant Operators Brandon Dubbs and Mike Curry, as well as HCWA General Manager Tony Carnell, at the GAWP Spring Conference & Expo in Dalton.














(L to R) GAWP President Gary McCoy presents the Education Program of Excellence Award to HCWA Naturalists Jeb Holder and Jeff Scott, along with General Manager Tony Carnell and Division Manager Allen Rape.










(L to R) GAWP President Gary McCoy presents Spencer Lauderdale, Foreman in the HCWA Sewer Line Maintenance Department, with the District 3 Wastewater Collections Top Operator of the Year Award. Lauderdale is accompanied by HCWA General Manager Tony Carnell.












GAWP President Gary McCoy (far left) presents Brett Howard, HCWA Class 1 Water Reclamation Plant Operator (center), with the District 3 Wastewater Top Operator of the Year Award. Howard is accompanied by the Authority’s David Farmer (second from the left), General Manager Tony Carnell (second from the right), and the Authority’s Buster Cook.