Mixed Greens

Congratulations to Alex Konoval and the City of DeLand for winning the annual FSAWWA Region III Best Tasting Drinking Water Contest held yesterday in Orlando. DeLand competed against 13 other utilities from central and eastern Florida.

The City of DeLand, and the “2009 Drinking Water Day” in Tallahassee received very favorable press coverage on WESH 2 News during their 6:00 PM news broadcast last night. You can see the coverage at www.wesh.com or copy the following link to your web browser:

http://www.wesh.com/news/18806481/detail.html

Please wish Alex and the City of DeLand luck as they compete in Tallahassee for the “Best Tasting Drinking Water in Florida” on April 1st. The 2009 Drinking Water Day in Tallahassee is also a great opportunity to meet with our legislators to discuss the important issues affecting water professionals in central and eastern Florida. Plan to come out and support our industry on April 1st.

Alex can be reached at: konovala@deland.org.

Craig A. Doeden

Chair, FSAWWA Region III

407.804.1420

**This summary was posted with permission of Craig Doeden and is not to be forwarded, printed, or copied without expressed permission from FSAWWA.

The City of DeLand is one of a small minority of cities and counties across the state seeking a certification from Florida Green Building Coalition. FGBC’s Green Local Government Standard outlines methods for saving energy, water, and reducing waste. The standard calls for each municipal department to take account of their operational approach when servicing citizens and look for ways to reduce environmental impacts. Assessment is underway and DeLand will submit their application in mid September. Final word from FGBC on DeLand’s eligibility for certification will likely not be had until late 2009.

DeLand will make new environmental improvements known via a section of their website devoted to Green Practices and Programs, both those internal and those available to citizens. This section of the website is currently under construction but will be a great resource to citizens and business owners who wish to utilize new and improved programs.

There is also a general sense of excitement about qualifying as a leader in municipal operations, setting the City apart from others. Earning FGBC’s Green Local Government designation will prepare everyone for more regulatory changes down the road. When stringent regulations become a matter of policy rather than mere incentives, DeLand will already have the language, programs and educated staff to implement the next stage of upgrades. And last, but certainly not least, through earning this certification, DeLand is positioning itself to receive federal stimulus money slated for environmental improvements to infrastructure and promotion of new green economic forces.

Stay tuned to here about new and improved programs available to the citizens of DeLand.