City of PSL Utility Systems Achieves APWA Accreditation

Published on December 03, 2024

The Port St. Lucie Utility Systems Department has recently received full accreditation from the American Public Works Association (APWA) and was recognized at the Port St. Lucie City Council Meeting on December 2. This accreditation formally verifies and recognizes that the agency is in full compliance with the recommended management practices set forth in APWA’s Public Works Management Practices Manual.

Open to all governmental agencies with responsibilities for utility/public works functions, initial accreditation from APWA is for a four-year period, during which time semi-annual updates will be required to demonstrate continuing compliance. After that time, there is a re-accreditation process that builds on the original accreditation, encouraging continuous improvement and compliance with newly identified practices.

The City’s Utility Systems Department received 99% compliance with all applicable practices. There are 23,000 municipalities in North America and of those, only 170 have received APWA accreditation. The City is one of 21 accredited organizations in Florida to receive accreditation by APWA and one of only five cities or counties in the state that have more than one department accredited by APWA.

The purpose of accreditation is to promote excellence in the operation and management of a utility/public works agency, its programs, and its employees. Accreditation is designed to assist the agency in the continuous improvement of operations and management, and in providing a valid and objective evaluation of agency programs as a service to the public and the profession.

“Accreditation from the APWA aligns with the Utility Systems Department’s mission to lead the water and wastewater utility industry as we focus on environmental stewardship, the use of innovative operating and maintenance processes to provide safe drinking water and advanced wastewater treatment services, while planning for the needs of the community’s future. Recognition must be given to the Department’s 332 dedicated employees for their ongoing efforts to provide exceptional customer support and service to each of our more than 95,000 customers as we strive to ensure the health and safety of the community, the Heart of the Treasure Coast,” says Utility Systems Director Kevin Matyjaszek.

APWA’s accreditation process includes five major steps:

• Self-Assessment: Using the Public Works Management Practices Manual, an internal review of an agency’s practices combined with a comparison of the recommended practices contained in the manual.
• Application: Once the decision has been made to commit to the Accreditation Program, the agency submits a formal application.
• Improvement: After the agency has completed the self-assessment and identified areas needing improvement, the agency will work to bring all practices to an acceptable level of compliance with the recommended practices.
• Evaluation: Following the completion of the improvement phase, the agency will request a site visit. The site visit will consist of a review and evaluation of the agency to determine the level of compliance with all applicable practices.
• Accreditation: The Accreditation Council will review the site visit results and recommendations from the team, voting to award or deny accreditation.

For more information about APWA Accreditation, please contact APWA Associate Director of Credentialing, Jeanette Klamm at jklamm@apwa.net or 816-595-5295.

About APWA

The American Public Works Association (www.apwa.net) is a not-for-profit, international organization with more than 30,000 members involved in the field of public works. APWA serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy, and the exchange of knowledge. APWA is headquartered in Kansas City, MO, has an office in Washington, DC, and 63 chapters in North America.