S-EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA 83P-K-99-001
October 1999
Office of Water
(4204)
1999 National
Wastewater
Management
Excellence Awards
Ceremony
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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water October 1999
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1999 National Wastewater
Management Excellence
Awards Ceremony
Water Environment Federation Conference
New Orleans, Louisiana
Monday, October 11,1999
US EPA National Awards Program Managers
Maria Campbell, Operations and Maintenance Awards
John Walker, Beneficial Biosolids Use Awards
Patricia Campbell, Pretreatment Awards
Betty West, Storm Water Awards
Tim Dwyer, Combined Sewer Overflow Awards
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The Program
Welcome
C. Dale Jacobson
Past-President
Water Environment Federation
Opening Remarks
and
Presentation of Awards
J.Charles Fox
Assistant Administrator for Water
U.S. EPA
Announcement of Award Recipients
Michael Cook
Director
Office of Wastewater Management
U.S.EPA
National Award Recipients
Operations and Maintenance Program Winners
Beneficial Use of Municipal Biosolids Program Winners
Pretreatment Program Winners
Storm Water Program Winners
Combined Sewer Overflow Program Winners
Refreshments, compliments of WEF, will be served following the ceremony in room 225.
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National Wastewater Management
Excellence Awards Programs
History
In 1986, by authority of Section 501 (e) of the Clean Water Act, the Environ-
mental Protection Agency (EPA) implemented an annual National Operations
and Maintenance (O&M) Excellence Awards Program to recognize outstanding
O&M at publicly owned wastewater treatment facilities. The O&M Awards
Program was an immediate success and was widely acclaimed as a way for EPA
to honor plant personnel and local officials for their commitment to clean water.
In 1988 due to that success, the awards program was expanded to include
the Beneficial Use of Biosolids Awards to recognize exemplary biosolids
operating projects, technology development, and research, and later public
acceptance efforts. In 1989, the Pretreatment Excellence Awards Program was
added to recognize municipal implementation and enforcement of local pretreat-
ment programs. In 1990 a new awards category for Most Improved Plant was
added to the O&M awards program to recognize the efforts of the plant
operator, the town, and the operator trainer who helped return the plant to
compliance under a technical assistance program designed to help small
communities. In 1991 the Combined Sewer Overflow and the Storm Water
Excellence Awards Programs were added to recognize programs and projects
that implemented outstanding combined sewer and storm water control
programs and projects.
Each year since the program's initiation, national awards have been
presented at the Water Environment Federation (WEF) National Conference.
There are over 16,000 publicly owned and 60,000 industrially owned wastewa-
ter treatment plants in the United States. The EPA awards program recognizes
select wastewater treatment plants or programs which have achieved excellent
compliance results and have demonstrated an outstanding technological
achievement, method, or device in their waste treatment and pollution abate-
ment programs. Award winners' representatives are invited to attend this
presentation ceremony. WEF has generously supported the awards program
by co-hosting the awards ceremony and by providing excellent coverage in its
publications. EPA is grateful to WEF for its continued help in making this
awards program a success.
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National Operations and Maintenance
Excellence Awards
The Prog ram
This is the fourteenth year of the EPA's National Operations and Maintenance
Excellence Awards program that recognizes plant personnel and local officials
for innovative and outstanding O&M activities at publicly owned wastewater
treatment facilities.
Large capacity hot
water system used to
melt grease from the
Inside of the primary
sludge piping
O&M 1" Place L-A
Category
York City WWTP
York, Pennsylvania
The Award Categories
Winners are recognized in nine award categories: small, medium, and large
secondary treatment plants; small, medium, and large advanced treatment
plants; small and large non-discharging plants; and most improved plant. For
the purpose of the awards program, small is defined as a design flow capacity
of less than one million gallons per day (mgd), medium is 1 to lOmgd, and large
is greater than 10 mgd, except in the non-discharging plant category where
large is greater than 1 mgd.
The "Most Improved Plant" category, a favorite of the O&M program,
recognizes exceptional efforts by treatment plant personnel, local officials, and
the onsite operator trainer to return a facility to compliance under a technical
assistance program authorized by Section 104(g)( 1) of the Clean Water Act.
This year there are two second place winners in the medium advanced
category and two second place winners in the Most Improved Plant category.
There is no second place winner in the large secondary category and no first or
second place winner in the large non-discharging plant category.
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The Regional Award Process
State water pollution control agencies solicit nominations from wastewater
treatment facilities in their State. After completing compliance screenings, the
EPA Regional Offices use selection panels to choose the facilities to receive
annual Regional awards. These Regional winners then become eligible for
national awards. Many State and Regional awards presentation ceremonies
are coordinated with the local associations of WEF.
The National Award Process
Awards nominations received from EPA Regional Offices undergo additional
screenings and are evaluated by a national selection panel based on Head-
quarters issued criteria. Award winners are invited to attend the presentation
ceremony where they receive flags, plaques and certificates. Awards recog-
nize the staff of these facilities and provide national recognition for their
contributions to their community and to the nation's goal of clean water.
a) Standby Power Generator
b) Clarifier and Pump Control Panel
O&M 2nd Place S-ND Category
Breckenridge Sanitation District-South
Blue River WWTP.
Breckenridge, Colorado
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The Criteria
Treatment facilities are judged based on their achievements within the
following areas:
Best Management Practices
Biosolids Handling and Disposal
Collection System Controls
Collection System Maintenance Management
Compliance
Equipment Maintenance Management
Financial Management
Innovative O&M Practices
Laboratory Management
Personnel Training Programs
Plant Automation
Pollution Prevention
Process Control and Field Monitoring
Public Education
Safety Education
Septage Management
Toxic Waste Controls
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National Operations and Maintenance
Excellence Awards
Winners and Categories
Large Advanced Plant
1st Place: York City Wastewater Treatment Plant
York, Pennsylvania
2nd Place: South Columbus Water Resource Facility
Columbus, Georgia
Medium Advanced Plant
1 st Place: Sweetwater Creek Water Pollution Control Plant
Douglasville, Georgia
2nd Places: Westborough Wastewater Treatment Facility
Westborough, Massachusetts
Inland Empire Utilities Agency-Regional Plant #2
Chino, California
Small Advanced Plant
1st Place: Elk Mound Wastewater Treatment Plant
Village of Elk Mound, Wisconsin
2nd Place: Swedesboro Wastewater Treatment Plant
Borough of Swedesboro, New Jersey
Large Secondary Plant
1st Place: Appleton Wastewater Treatment Plant
Appleton, Wisconsin
Medium Secondary Plant
1 st Place: Escanaba Wastewater Treatment Plant
Escanaba, Michigan
2nd Place: Brattleboro Wastewater Treatment Plant
Brattleboro, Vermont
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Small Secondary Plant
1 st Place: Oak Park Conservancy District
Jeffersonville, Indiana
2nd Place: V. A. Togus Wastewater Treatment Facility
Togus, Maine
Small Non-discharging Plant
1 st Place: Edgartown Wastewater Treatment Plant
Town of Edgartown, Massachusetts
2nd Place: Breckenridge Sanitation District
South Blue River Wastewater Treatment Plant
Breckenridge, Colorado
Most Improved Plant
John H. Samson National Award
1 st Place: Town of Cedaredge Wastewater Treatment Plant
Cedaredge, Colorado
104(g) Trainer: Jon B. Evans, Department of Utilities
Carbondale Wastewater Treatment Plant
Carbondale, Colorado
2nd Places: Lyndonville Wastewater Treatment Facility
Lyndon, Vermont
104(g) Trainer: Paul Olander, Vermont Department of
Environmental Conservation
Canal Winchester Wastewater Treatment Plant
Canal Winchester, Ohio
104(g) Trainer: Ohio EPA Compliance Assistance Unit
Columbus, Ohio
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National Beneficial Use of
Municipal Wastewater
Biosolids Excellence Awards
The Program
This is the twelfth year of the EPA's National Biosolids awards program that
recognizes outstanding operational projects, research studies, technological
advances, and public acceptance efforts for promoting beneficial uses of
municipal wastewater biosolids. EPA presents national awards and may
present regional awards.
Creative and widely applicable biosolids techniques are vital to the
nation's efforts to protect and improve our soil and water resources. These
awards focus attention on the critical need to develop and implement manage-
ment practices that use wastewater biosolids beneficially and that are environ-
mentally safe, economical, and acceptable to the public. The nomination
process is very productive, even if the nominee is not selected as a winner,
due to the recognition and transfer of information on the beneficial uses of
biosolids that occurs.
Many municipalities, individuals, and groups have worked for years to
make significant contributions to the study and practice of safe, beneficial use
of municipal biosolids. This awards program recognizes their professional
efforts. We congratulate this year's award winners, and encourage nomina-
tions of worthy candidates for next year's regional and national beneficial
biosolids use award programs.
Transportation mechanism (or Biosolids from New York City to Colorado.
Biosolids 1" Place Public Acceptance - Other
Prowers County Land Application Program
Limon, Colorado
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The Award Categories and Criteria
The beneficial use of municipal wastewater biosolids award candidates are
evaluated using the following criteria:
For Operating Projects
Two Categories: 1) Less Than or Equal to 5 mgd; and
2) Greater Than 5 mgd
Compliant with applicable Federal, State, and local regulations.
Consistent, cost-effective operation.
Excellence in project management.
Public acceptability.
Significant recycling/reuse of natural resources (e.g., nutrients, organic
matter, and energy).
Sustained (several years), full-scale, proven operation.
For Technology Development Activities
Operationally proven.
Resolved previous biosolids management or utilization problems.
Sustained excellence in advancing our knowledge of technology (e.g.,
improved design criteria or operational practice).
Technology has potential for use in many areas of the country.
For Research Activities
Greater public acceptability of biosolids beneficial use.
Greatly improves the understanding of the environmental effects of beneficial
use of biosolids.
Key information generated for development of improved biosolids regula-
tions and guidance.
Substantial contribution toward the development of improved design and
operation.
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For Public Acceptance Efforts
Two Categories: 1) Municipal; and,
2) All Others
Characterized by dedicated successful individual and team efforts.
Demonstrated increase in public acceptance.
Demonstrated willingness to share information and approaches for gaining
public acceptance.
Proactive approach for successfully working with such entities as the press
and cultivating and gaining allies to explain the benefits and diffuse alarmist
stories that might arise.
Program with excellent information transfer and training efforts that have
made a positive difference locally.
The Award Process
Candidates for the six categories of national awards may be nominated by
anyone including EPA Regions, States, municipalities, consultants, research-
ers, or other interested parties. Some EPA Regions are sponsoring their own
awards programs. Applicants must complete a standard nomination form with
identifying information, executive summary, facility/activity information, and
additional supporting information. Nomination guidance for the year 2000
awards will be available from EPA Regional Offices in early 2000.
Land application of blosollds (or growth of alfalfa.
Biosolids 1" Place Public Acceptance-Other
Prowers County Land Application Program
Limon, Colorado
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National Beneficial Use of Municipal Wastewater
Biosolids Excellence Awards
Winners and Categories
Operating Projects Less Than or Equal to 5 mgd
1st Place:
2nd Place:
Honorable Mention:
Lower Creek Water Reclamation Facility
City of Lenoir, North Carolina
Water Resources Department of Public Works
City of Washington, North Carolina, and
Synagro Southeast
Pepper's Ferry Regional Wastewater Treatment
Authority
Radford, Virginia
Operating Projects Greater Than 5 mgd
1st Place:
2nd Place:
Honorable Mention:
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, and
United Water Services Milwaukee, LLC
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Bureau of Environmental Services
City of Portland, Oregon
Village Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant
City of Fort Worth, Texas
Research Activities
1st Place:
Littleton/Englewood Wastewater Treatment
Facility, Englewood, Colorado, and
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado
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National Beneficial Use of Municipal Wastewater
Biosolids Excellence Awards
Winners and Categories
Public Acceptance Efforts
1 st Place: Municipal Natures Blend Water Pollution Control Center
City of Warren, Ohio
1 st Place: Other Prowers County Land Application Program,
Parker Ag
Services, LLC, Limon, Colorado, EPIC of Denville,
New Jersey, and New York City Dept. of
Environmental Protection
SPECIAL AWARD
For Development of an Outstanding Biosolids Education
and Training Program
Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies
and Oregon State University Extension Service
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National Pretreatment Program
Excellence Awards
The Program
This is the eleventh year of EPA's National Pretreatment Excellence Awards
Program. The awards recognize publicly owned treatment works (POTWs)
with exemplary local pretreatment programs that reduce the risk of pass
through of toxic pollutants and the operational interferences caused by toxic
discharges. Through their pretreatment efforts with local industry, POTWs
achieve additional benefits such as improved biosolids quality and reduced
risks to treatment plant worker health and safety.
The Pretreatment Excellence Awards Program is designed to recognize
POTWs for outstanding efforts in the control of industrial discharges and to
heighten overall public awareness of and support for these local wastewater
treatment-related programs. An awards committee made up of pretreatment
experts from EPA Headquarters, EPA Regions and States recommends POTW
award recipients in five categories. Members of the committee evaluate all
aspects of the implementation of the nominees' pretreatment programs, as well
as the environmental benefits of the programs. The judges also seek to
recognize innovations that are transferable to other cities' programs.
m
Steve Starrer, Environmental Services Manager
Inspecting truck wash facility at local trucking company.
Pretreatment 1" Place 0-10 SlUs
City of Wilsonville, Oregon
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The Award Criteria
POTWs are judged on their performance in the following areas:
Enforcement
Environmental Achievements
Industrial User Monitoring
Industrial User Permitting
Innovations in Program Implementation
Legal Authority
Local Limits
Public Outreach
The Award Categories
Awards are given in five categories based on the number of significant
industrial users (SIUs):
0-10 SIUs; 11 - 20 SIUs; 21 - 50 SIUs; 51 to 100 SIUs; and Greater than 100
SIUs. This year there are first place awards in all categories. Second place
awards are in the 0 -10 SIUs, 11 - 20 SIUs, and 21 - 50 SIUs categories.
The Award Process
The selection of POTWs for Pretreatment Program Excellence Awards begins
when EPA Headquarters solicits nominations from the 10 EPA Regions.
Nominated POTWs are asked to complete an awards application. An Awards
Review Committee, comprised of pretreatment experts from across the country,
evaluates applications to judge the local pretreatment programs and to choose
National Pretreatment Program Excellence Award winners.
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0-lOSIUs
1st Place:
2nd Place:
ll-20SIUs
1st Place:
National Pretreatment Program
Excellence Awards
Winners and Categories
City of Wilsonville, Oregon
Merrimack Wastewater Treatment Facility
Merrimack, New Hampshire
South Valley Water Reclamation Facility
West Jordan, Utah
2nd Place: City of San Marcos, Texas
21 - 50 SIUs
1st Place:
Littleton/Englewood Wastewater Treatment Facility
Englewood, Colorado
2nd Place: City of Elkhart, Indiana
51 -100 SIUs
1 st Place: City of Albuquerque, New Mexico
Greater than 100 SIUs
1 st Place: Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District
St. Louis, Missouri
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National Storm Water Program
Excellence Awards
The Program
In 1991 EPA established the National Storm Water Excellence Awards
program. Two award categories recognize municipalities and industries that
are demonstrating their commitment to protect and improve the quality of the
nation's waters by implementing outstanding, innovative and cost-effective
Storm Water control programs and projects. This awards program heightens
overall public awareness of storm water measures and encourages public
support of programs aimed at protecting the public's health and safety and the
nation's water quality.
An Awards Review Committee comprised of storm water experts from EPA
Headquarters and Regions selects the award recipients. Members of the
committee evaluate all aspects of individual projects or programs.
The Award Categories
Awards are given in two categories: Municipal Storm Water control program
and project; and the Industrial Storm Water control program and project. This
year there is a first place winner in the municipal and industrial categories, a
second place winner in the municipal category and two second place award
winners in the industrial category.
Dual purpose Infiltration bed. Roof run-off (zinc free roof) discharges to the rock bed
from pipe on the right and parking lot (dirty) water flows Into the cut In the concrete
curb on the left corner.
Storm Water 2'"1 Place Municipal Category
Lowes Creek Demonstration Project
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
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The Award Process
The selection of award winners begins when EPA Headquarters solicits
nominations from EPA Regional offices, States and territories. After an initial
screening of these nominations at EPA Headquarters, the nominees are asked
to complete an awards application. The Awards Review Committee uses these
applications to judge the individual programs and projects, then selects the
National Storm Water Control Program Excellence Award winners.
Examples of roof vent collectors which capture potential liquid flows
from roof vents associated with brewing process vessels and
divert them to the process sewer system.
Storm Water 2"" Place Industrial Category
Anheuser-Busch Brewery
Columbus, Ohio
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National Storm Water Program
Excellence Awards
Winners and Categories
Municipal Category
1 st Place: Tanners Lake Water Quality Improvement District
Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District
Oakdale, Minnesota
2nd Place: Lowes Creek Storm Water Demonstration Project
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Industrial Category
1 st Place: Ciba Specialty Chemicals
Newport, Delaware
2nd Places: Anheuser-Busch Brewery
Columbus, Ohio
Coca Cola USA Fountain
Columbus, Ohio
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National Combined Sewer Overflow Control
Program Excellence Awards
The Program
This is the eighth year that awards are presented for National Combined Sewer
Overflow (CSO) Control Program Excellence. This year's National CSO award
is presented to one first place winner and two second place winners. The
National CSO awards recognize municipalities which demonstrate their
commitment to protect and improve the quality of the nations waters by
implementing outstanding innovative and cost-effective CSO programs and
projects. The CSO Control Program Excellence Awards heighten overall public
awareness of CSO measures and encourage public support of programs aimed
at protecting the public's health and safety and the nation's water quality.
An Awards Review Committee comprised of CSO experts from EPA
Headquarters and Regions selects the award recipients. Members of the
committee evaluate all aspects of individual projects and programs.
The Award Categories and the Award Process
First and second place awards are given in the Municipal CSO category. The
selection of award winners begins when EPA Headquarters solicits
nominations from the 10 EPA Regions. After an initial screening of these
nominations at EPA Headquarters, the nominees are asked to complete an
awards application. The Awards Review Committee then uses these
applications to judge the individual programs and projects and select the
National CSO Control Program Excellence Award winners.
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National Combined Sewer Overflow Control
Program Excellence Awards
Winners and Category
Municipal Category
1 st Place: Department of Public Utilities
City of Richmond, Virginia
2nd Place: City of Auburn, New York
Columbus Water Works
Columbus, Georgia
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