TALLAHASSEE, FLA. — The city of Tallahassee, Fla., recently expanded its Environmental Management System Registrations with NSF International Strategic Registrations Ltd, as part of the city’s ongoing energy and water conservation efforts. Tallahassee’s ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System registration now includes Tallahassee’s Divisions of Water Quality, Wastewater Collection, and Wastewater Treatment Operations.

NSF’s certification of these divisions to ISO 14001:2004 confirms the city has management systems in place to monitor, manage, and improve environmental performance. ISO 14001:2004 provides guidance on how to manage the environmental aspects of an organization's activities, products and services more efficiently, while taking into consideration environmental protection, pollution prevention, and socio-economic needs.

According to NSF, consequential benefits of the Environmental Management System include lower operating costs and reduced risks to the environment. As a result of obtaining these certifications, Tallahassee also was able to increase its bond rating from AA to AA+.

“The city of Tallahassee’s Underground Utilities is proud to become one of the first mid-sized utilities in the state to achieve certification,” Mayor Marks stated when receiving the city’s certificate. “We’ve been saying for a long time that we’re willing to make the commitment to be environmental stewards, and to be part of the solution.”

The city's ISO 14001-registered wastewater treatment system is comprised of the Thomas P. Smith Water Reclamation Facility, the Lake Bradford Road Wastewater Treatment Facility, the Southeast Farm, and the Tram Road Reuse. Tallahassee also continues to measure success, improve internal and external communications and build relationships with regulatory agencies.

"Our Environmental Management System has been very important in helping us achieve our Strategic Business Goal of becoming even better stewards of the environment and in living our Vision Statement of ‘Setting the Standard for Excellence,’" stated Mike Tadros, the general manager for Underground Utilities, in recognizing the staff members who helped implement the program.