Thomas Lynn | The Valdosta Daily TimesMayor John Gayle and city Utility Director Darryl Muse with AVID students from W.G. Nunn Elementary and J.L. Newbern Middle schools at the National Drinking Water Event Day Friday.

VALDOSTA, Ga. — City residents wake up and brew a cup of coffee, take a hot shower and brush their teeth every morning before heading out for the day.

The daily rituals, which so many people take for granted, would be impossible without the Valdosta Water Treatment Plant, 3863 Guest Road. 

Last week, the city honored the treatment plant and all it does for residents by observing National Drinking Water Week with a National Drinking Water Event Day.

With a bouncy castle, various games and information booths spread across a grassy field adjacent to the treatment plant on Guest Road, the event was much bigger and more ambitious than past years. That is all thanks to Darryl Muse, the new utility director.

“Every day, thousands of water customers in our city turn on their faucets with little thought about the water that streams out and how it moves from its initial source through the treatment process and ultimately to our taps,” Muse said. “National Drinking Water Week is a great opportunity to take time to reflect on how essential safe drinking water is to our everyday lives.”

Muse also invited two advancement via individual determination classes from W.G. Nunn Elementary School and J.L. Newbern Middle School. 

He said the utilities department wants to start teaching city residents at young ages about conservation and protecting resources. The theme for this year was “Protect the Source.” 

“If we can get them started early, then conservation will just be a part of what they do as they grow older and become a member of the community,” Muse said. 

Mayor John Gayle also attended the event. He proclaimed May 6-12 as Valdosta Drinking Water Week. 

Gayle said Muse has done a tremendous job planning the event and as the new utilities director.

“Everything (Muse) has done shows the importance of this facility,” Gayle said. “Since we upgraded the water treatment plant in 2007, it has come a long way. We received the water treatment plant award in 2013, and, of course, we have attracted industry here based off of our clean water.”

Thomas Lynn is a government and education reporter for The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be reached at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256