Two City of Alcoa Water Treatment Plant employees were honored recently at the Tennessee Water and Wastewater Association (TWWA) meeting held in Chattanooga, TN.

Senior Operator Paul Phillips was named as the recipient of the Tennessee Water and Wastewater Association‘s (TWWA) H.B. Rosson Water Treatment Plant Operator of the Year Award. This award is given to the person who is considered by their peers to be the best water plant operator in Tennessee.

Before working for the City of Alcoa, Phillips was employed by a number of water treatment operations. He began his water treatment career with the Anderson County Utility Board in 1980. He worked there five years before moving to West Knox County Utility District as a Grade IV Plant Operator. In 1987, Phillips worked in the private sector for Betz Industrial as operator of a wastewater pretreatment plant at Alcoa, Inc. ALCOA budget cuts led to elimination of his position as contract operator after eight years. He then worked for Aqua/KWS as a sales representative and at the Hallsdale-Powell Utility District as a plant operator before being hired by the City in 1996.

Phillips is a certified as a Grade IV Water Treatment Plant Operator and Grade II Water Distribution System Operator.

Maintenance Technician Mike Jenkins received the TWWA’s James F. Pilkin Award, recognizing him as Tennessee’s Collection System Operator of the Year.

Jenkins started his City of Alcoa career in 1995 in the Sanitation Department. He was promoted to Assistant Maintenance Plumber in November of 1995 and to Maintenance Technician, the position he currently holds, in April, 1996. Jenkins has primary responsibility for maintenance of three water pump stations, 18 wastewater lift stations and seven grinder pumps. Mike’s duties also include all maintenance of water and wastewater plumbing in support of over 200 City employees, maintenance of the 16 MGD membrane filtration water plant, and is the backup traffic signal technician for the City of Alcoa.

Jenkins’ accomplishments and certifications include: Grade II Wastewater Collection System Certificate, Grade II Water Distribution Certificate, Level II Traffic Signal Technician Certificate, Certified as a Master Plumber, and was Employee of the Year in 2002 as voted on by his peers.