Three Cape Fear Public Utility Authority staff members have been honored by the North Carolina section of the American Water Works Association and Water Environment Association (NC AWWA-WEA). They are Robert Daughtry, Jim Tayson and Michael Richardson.

Daughtry, CFPUA’s utilities collection system manager, received the 2015 Wastewater Collection Operator of the Year Award for his “contribution to the successful operation and maintenance of a sewage collection system,” according to a news release.

Tayson, CFPUA’s water distribution and construction manager, is the 2015 Water Distribution Operator of the Year Award winner for his “contribution to the successful operation and maintenance of a water distribution system,” the release stated.

Richardson, CFPUA’s water resource manager, is the 2015 Disaster Preparedness Award winner (individual). The award is given to a person who has shown “outstanding achievement in advancing disaster preparedness initiatives, thereby strengthening our preparedness,” the release stated, adding that NC AWWA-WEA previously has given this award only to facilities for their achievements in disaster preparedness. Richardson is the first individual recipient of this award.

“These awards simply affirm what those of us who have worked with Robert, Jim, and Mike have known for a long time, that they are exemplary leaders in our industry,” Jim Flechtner, CFPUA’s executive director, said in the release.  “Working in water and wastewater is a public service. Their dedication to their important roles not only at CFPUA, but in our community, are more than worthy of this well-respected recognition.” 

The three received their awards at a conference in Raleigh on Nov. 16.

NC AWWA-WEA represents municipal and private utilities, consulting engineering firms, government agencies, companies that provide equipment and supplies to the industry and representatives of academia who teach and conduct research in water and wastewater-related areas.   

The organization provides water and wastewater education, training, and service in an effort to protect public health and the environment, according to the release.  Every year, it honors top performers in the water and wastewater industries with a series of awards to recognize the dedication and ingenuity of its members across the state.