O.N. Stevens Water Treatment Plant Earns State Environmental Recognition
City Joins 10 Texas Municipalities Awarded for Exceeding Regulatory Water Treatment Standards
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – Corpus Christi Water (CCW) announced today that the O.N. Stevens Water Treatment Plant (ONSWTP) was formally recognized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for meeting the strict criteria of the Texas Optimization Program (TOP) for 12 consecutive months.
TOP is a voluntary recognition program administered by TCEQ that requires more stringent monitoring and treatment limits for filtered water turbidity than the standard regulatory requirements. Only 16 water treatment plants across 10 municipalities in Texas have achieved this distinction by maintaining the rigorous criteria for 12 consecutive months or more.
“The recognition is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the CCW water treatment staff,” said Nicholas Winkelmann, CCW Interim Chief Operating Officer. “Meeting these enhanced standards for an entire year demonstrates our commitment to providing the highest quality water to the community.”
During today’s ceremony, TCEQ representatives presented CCW staff with a recognition award and a TOP flag for display at the plant. All plant employees also received special TOP pins in recognition of their collective achievement.
The achievement comes as the City continues to make significant capital investments in water infrastructure, with over $350 million invested in the ONSWTP over the last few years. Currently, eight projects are in the design phase, and six projects are in the construction phase, including clearwells, the Raw Water Improvements and Chemical Feed Improvements Project, Nueces River transmission main improvements, Filter Hydraulic Improvements, and security upgrades.
“These improvements enhance the reliability, resiliency, and capacity of the water treatment plant,” said Winkelmann. “This TOP recognition validates that our investments and our team’s efforts are delivering results for our customers.”
For media inquiries, please contact Ashley Marion, Strategic Business Manager, at (361) 826-3706 or ashleym6@corpuschristiTX.gov.
