Forsyth County water and sewer department wins 10 GAWP awards

Forsyth County’s Department of Water & Sewer was recognized by the Board of Commissioners for winning 10 awards from the Georgia Association of Water Professionals, a public nod to the work that keeps water moving into homes and wastewater moving out of them. The county highlighted the recognition on its government account with photos and a link to more information.

Assistant County Manager Barry Lucas said the stakes reach far beyond trophies or plaques. “Without clean, safe drinking water and environmentally sound wastewater practices, you really have nothing and can’t do anything in a community,” Lucas said.

That is the resident impact hidden inside the award count. The 10-award recognition points to the basic utility functions Forsyth households depend on every day: safe drinking water, dependable sewer service and the operational standards needed to keep those systems working across a fast-growing county.

The latest honor also fits a pattern of repeated recognition. In April 2024, Forsyth County said the department had been recognized for multiple GAWP awards for excellent service, including four awards for 2022 and two for 2023. Brian Skeens, then president of GAWP, recognized the department during an April 25, 2024 Board of Commissioners work session.

The county said the department was recognized again at a May 15, 2025 Board of Commissioners meeting for winning eight GAWP awards. Taken together, the 2024, 2025 and latest recognitions show a utility department that county leaders are holding up as a standard-bearer for water and wastewater operations.

The department’s mission statement says it aims to provide the highest quality of water and sewer service through progressive leadership and environmental stewardship. For Forsyth residents, that mission is measured less by the award ceremony than by whether taps stay safe, pipes keep working and the infrastructure behind daily life keeps pace with the county’s growth.