AVON — Interim Town Administrator James Purcell and Department of Public Works Director William Fitzgerald are pleased to announce that Avon’s water system was recently recognized as one of the best in the Commonwealth.
The Avon Water Division was one of 40 water districts in Massachusetts to earn recognition through the Public Water System Awards Program. The districts will be honored on May 11 during a Massachusetts Water Works Association event at the State House.
“Our water system has come a long way in a few short years,” Director Fitzgerald said. “We work as one team toward our shared goal of providing the Town with high-quality water, and this recognition is a testament to the effort that has gone into achieving just that.”
Added Interim Town Administrator Purcell: “This award is proof that our team, across DPW divisions and with the support of multiple town departments, does its best to deliver our residents quality services. Their hard work leads to recognition like this.”
To qualify for the honor, a system must be in compliance with drinking water regulations for at least five consecutive years. Compliance includes making sure that the system does not surpass the maximum contaminant level and has higher-level enforcement.
One of the current projects for the Water Division is the centralization of corrosion control. The in-house work done by the department is saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Fitzgerald credits the efforts of Lead Operator Steve Smith, Water Techs Jason Suzor and Bill French, Administrative Assistant Christine Clifford and DPW Assistant Director Brian Martin, among many others.
“All pitch into our projects, whether it’s addressing water main breaks, making system improvements, or conducting maintenance,” Director Fitzgerald said. “I would like to thank the Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee and Town Meeting for their collective support of our work to deliver the best possible water for the Avon community.”
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