Sanford, FL – September 13, 2017 – Wharton-Smith, Inc., one of Central Florida’s largest locally based general contractors recently received the prestigious Eagle Award bestowed by the Central Florida Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractor’s (ABC) Excellence in Construction Awards program for the Harmony Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion project. The project was recognized in the $10-$20 million Public Works/Environmental category. The Eagle Award is the chapter’s highest recognition across each of the judged categories. Team members will be honored at ABC’s annual awards presentation banquet on October 7th in Orlando.

The Harmony Wastewater Treatment Plant is an important project to the unincorporated development of Harmony and to the surrounding environment. The 0.5 millions of gallons per day (MGD) facility (expandable to 1.5 MGD) supports population growth of the master planned community and the nearby Harmony High School. It also provides an alternate water source for irrigation needs rather than pumping groundwater, relieving stress to the aquifer so that the environment can be sustained and protected. Judges recognized these benefits, as well as the team’s efforts in completing the project four months ahead of schedule and significantly under budget despite considerable challenges such as extensive dewatering of the site due to surrounding wetlands.

“As a company it is rewarding to have built a facility that not only supports community growth, but also provides a solution to our overstressed Floridan aquifer,” said Erik Anderson, Senior Project Manager. “This team really came together operating the jobsite like a well-oiled machine to overcome many challenges. I am extremely proud of their efforts,” he added.