10 Apr White House Utility District earns a perfect score on Sanitary Survey
White House Utility District (WHUD), the state’s largest geographic water and wastewater provider earned a perfect 100 on its 2019 Sanitary Survey, a comprehensive assessment program conducted by the Tennessee Department of Environmental Conservation (TDEC). While the District has received scores of 95 or higher for the past 10 years, this is WHUD’s first ever perfect score.
The Sanitary Survey is designed to evaluate and document a water system’s capabilities, operations, sources, facilities, treatment process, equipment, distribution network, monitoring, reporting and data verification, pump facilities, controls and overall management needed to continually provide safe drinking water to the public. It also allows for the identification of any deficiencies that might impact the provision of safe drinking water. Water systems are critiqued in scored 59 specific areas, which are comprised of 599 possible points, throughout the multi-day assessment.
“This is a testament to the high level of professionalism displayed daily across our operation, as well as our team’s commitment to quality,” said Bill Thompson, general manager of WHUD. “We work really hard to deliver safe, reliable water each and every day, and we are thrilled to get such a positive assessment on our operations.”
Sanitary Surveys are conducted approximately every 18-24 months and are unannounced. WHUD’s last Sanitary Survey was conducted in March of 2017. The District received 596 points out of a possible 599, earning the District a score of 99. The District also received a score of 99 for its 2015 and 2012 Sanitary Surveys.
“This is a big accomplishment for any utility,” said Bill Treanor, WHUD facilities engineer. “These surveys are extremely detailed and look for the tiniest of infractions. To earn all 599 points is something that only few ever achieve.”
District leaders attribute this year’s 100 to its increasing use of technology to give them real-time, reliable data that has helped drive decision-making and improved workflows.
“In the last year or so, we’ve transitioned our compliance documentation to a digital system, making it easier and faster for operators to look for and identify anomalies,” said Chris MacPhee, water treatment plant manager. “Because of that, we can often see potential issues in our system before they disrupt operations.”
This announcement coincides with WHUD’s release of its 2018 Water Quality Report, which shows that the District met or exceeded all state regulations for water quality in 2018. This report is required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure consumers are informed not only about the quality of their drinking water but also the methods used to ensure the water supply is safe for consumption.
WHUD’s 2018 Water Quality Report can be found in the Water Quality section of WHUD.org. Customers can request a printed copy by calling 615-672-4110 or emailing info@whud.org.
