Hillsville’s water is as good as any municipality’s in the state.

For the second year in a row, the Town of Hillsville’s water plant won the Gold Water Treatment Plant Performance Award from the Virginia Department of Health. Of the 132 water plants in the state, only 13 received the Gold Award.

“This is the second year in a row that we have won the Gold Award,” said Hillsville Water/Wastewater Director Danny Webb. “I think that says a lot about the people that work here.”

Before the run of two straight Gold Awards, Hillsville received a Silver Award for its water plant’s performance.

Webb noted that many of the plants that received the Gold Award are from communities with a similar profile to Hillsville. He said that isn’t a coincidence and he touted the work done at the plant by his staff, which includes Lake Newman, Joe Botsch, Darrick Mayes, Richard Frazier and Bill Bobbitt..

“Of the 13 water plants that won the Gold, most are from the smaller towns and cities in our state,” Webb said. “Typically, these plants don’t have as much money to work with as the ones in the larger cities. So obviously, it’s more about the quality of the people you have, than the amount of money. I’ve said it many times, it is my pleasure to be able to work with these guys.”

Hillsville Town Manager Larry South said the Gold Award should be reassuring to the citizens of Hillsville.

“We have very dedicated employees and the public can have confidence in the quality of their drinking water,” South said. “We’re all thankful for that.”