NAPLES — The Ave Maria Utility Company (AMUC) was named 2021 Best Tasting Drinking Water by the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association – Region V. FSAWWA “advances public health, safety and welfare by uniting the efforts of the full spectrum of the entire water community.” The Best Tasting Drinking Water contest is for utility companies from Collier, Hendry, and Lee counties and considers a variety of criteria, including aroma, taste, clarity, and color.

This is AMUC’s fourth regional title; AMUC won Best Tasting Drinking Water regional titles in 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2021. At the state level, they earned the Best Tasting Drinking Water award in 2010 and 2014, making the company FSAWWA’s first repeat winners at the state level.

AMUC Lead Operator Ray Carter - who pulled and delivered the water sample for the 2021 contest - says about his team’s continued excellent work, “We pay close attention to our water quality and are very proud of our awards. The entire water treatment process is conducted right here in Ave Maria. We pump water from the Tamiami aquifer and process it through membrane treatment and degasification. It’s all done on-site from the ground to our customers’ taps.”

AMUC serves nearly 9,000 people in Ave Maria and also provides operational services to four Collier County Public Schools. Services include drinking water treatment and distribution, wastewater treatment, and reclaim (reuse) for irrigation.

Plant Operations Manager Paul Cortez notes the facility is 100% reuse, meaning used water undergoes a multi-step treatment process before it is recirculated for irrigation use. To learn more visit https://www.amuc.com/about/AMUC.asp email ContactUs@amuc.com.

ABOUT & DIRECTIONS

Ave Maria Utility Company, LLLP (AMUC) provides utility services for the Ave Maria Development including potable water, wastewater treatment and reclaimed water. AMUC’s goal is to provide the highest quality of service, focusing on customer service and protection of our environment. AMUC earned the Best Tasting Drinking Water in Florida in 2014 and 2010 and most recently for the region in 2021 from the American Water Works Association’s (AWWA). In addition, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection presented AMUC with a Plant Operations Excellence Award in 2013 which recognized the outstanding plant operation, maintenance, and compliance.

Ave Maria has been named a Top 25 Master Planned Community in the United States, 2015-2021 Community of the Year, the Top Selling Single-Family Home Community in Southwest Florida, and its active adult community, Del Webb Naples, has been named a Top 20 Places to Retire. Located in southwest Florida, Ave Maria is a self-sustaining town including shopping and dining, employment opportunities, parks and recreation, and is zoned for all A-rated Collier County public schools. At its build out, the town will include up to 11,000 residences, and 1.8 million square feet of retail, office, and business park uses in its 4,000 acres. Ave Maria is located at the intersection of Oil Well and Camp Keais Roads in Eastern Collier County. The main entrance, on Oil Well just west of Camp Keais, leads to the Town Center. Take I-75, exit 111, follow the signs east to Ave Maria, approximately 25 minutes. For more information, please visit http://www.avemaria.com/ or call 239-352-3903.