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            United States
            Environmental Protection
            Agency
               EPA 832-K-97-001
               October 1997
            Office of Water (4204)
1997 National
Wastewater
Management
Excellence Awards
Ceremony



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                 United States
           Environmental Protection
                    Agency
Office of Water                         October 1997
   Water Environment Federation Conference
                Chicago, Illinois
           Monday, October 20,1997


     US EPA National Awards Program Managers
  Maria Campbell, Operations and Maintenance Awards
     John Walker, Beneficial Biosolids Use Awards
        Lisa Hammond, Pretreatment Awards
          Betty West, Storm Water Awards
    Tim Dwyer, Combined Sewer Overflow Awards

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             UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20460
                                   OCT 20 1997
                                                                  OFFICE OF
                                                                    WATER
 CONGRATULATIONS NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS!

         October 18,1997, begins the 25th Anniversary Year of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
 As water professionals, in or out of government, we can take pride in the progress made to
 improve and protect our Nation's waters using the tools provided by the Act.

        I cannot think of a more appropriate way to kick off the Silver Anniversary
celebration of the CWA than by honoring those among us who have demonstrated their
imagination and excellence in various important aspects of water management. As a former
State and local official, I know that it takes an effective partnership of Federal, State and local
officials, as well as the private sector, to achieve the kind of success that we celebrate today.
In the 25 years since the enactment of the CWA, the pollutant loads from municipal wastewa-
ter treatment facilities have fallen about 40% while the population served by these faculties
increased by 30%.  The hard work and dedication of local managers, plant operators and
their staff has been an absolutely essential part of the steady progress toward the national
goal of "fishable and swimmable" waters.

        We, at the Environmental Protection Agency, salute you and your colleagues
throughout the nation on a job well done and look forward to working with you to address
the challenges that still lie ahead.

                                                 Sincerely,
                                                 Robert Perciasepe
                                                 Assistant Administrator

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                    The Program
                       Welcome

                     Billy G. Turner
                       President
              Water Environment Federation
                   Opening Remarks
                          and
                 Presentation of Awards
                    Robert Perciasepe
            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 S406A.

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         National Wastewater Management
            Excellence Awards Programs
 History

 In 1986, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated
 an annual National Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Excel-
 lence Awards Program to recognize outstanding O&M at publicly
 owned wastewater treatment facilities. The O&M Awards Pro-
 gram 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. This awards recognition program is
 authorized under Section 501 (e) of the Clean Water Act.

 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 pretreatment
 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.

 Since its initiation, national awards have been presented each year
 at the Water Environment Federation (WEF) National Conference.
 There are over 16,000 publicly owned and 60,000 industrially
 owned wastewater 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 outstanding and innovative wastewater
management practices. Award winners' representatives are
 invited to attend this presentation ceremony. WEF has generously
supported the awards program by co-hosting the awards cer-
emony 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 Program

This is the twelfth 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.
                              O&M, First Place, S-A Category
                              Hurtourt field AFBWWTF
                              Okaloosa County FL
                              Reuse water is used for plant washdown,
                              irrigation, and belt filter press operations.
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 10 mgd, and large is greater
than 10 mgd, except in the non-discharging plant category where
large is greater than 1 mgd. This year there will be two first place
award winners in the medium advanced category.

The "Most Improved  Plant" category, a favorite of the O&M pro-
gram, 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)(l) of the Clean Water Act.

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 The Regional Award Process

 State water pollution control agencies solicit nominations from
 wastewater treatment facilities in their State. 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 are
 evaluated by a national selection panel based on Headquarters
 issued criteria. Award winners are invited to attend the presentation
 ceremony where they receive flags, plaques and certificates. Awards
 recognize the staff of these facilities and provide national recognition
 for their contributions to their community and to the nation's goal of
 clean water.
                        0 & M. First Place, L-S Category
                          NEORD, Easterly WWTP
                             Cleveland, OH
The Nuidized bed grease and skimmings
incinerator
A (anker unloading grease and skimmings
from one of the other district facilities.
                              6

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The Criteria

Treatment facilities are judged based on their achievements within
the following areas:

• Compliance

• Equipment Maintenance Management

• Financial Management

• Innovative O&M Practices

• Laboratory Management

• Personnel Training Programs

• Biosolids Handling and Disposal

• Safety Education

• Pollution Prevention

• Process Control and Field Monitoring

• Septage Management

• Toxic Waste Controls

• Collection System Controls

• Collection System Maintenance Management

• Public Education

• Plant Automation

• Best Management Practices

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     National Operations and Maintenance
  Excellence Awards Winners and Categories


Small Secondary Plant

1st Place:      Village of Speculator Wastewater Treatment Plant
             Speculator, New York

Medium Secondary Plant

1st Place:      City of Fort Lupton
             Fort Lupton, Colorado

2nd Place:     Valley Forge Sewer Authority
             Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

Large Secondary Plant

1st Place:      Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
             Easterly Wastewater Treatment Plant
             Cleveland, Ohio

2nd Place:     Springfield Regional Wastewater Treatment
             Facility, Springfield, Massachusetts

Small Advanced Plant

1st Place:      Hurlburt Field Wastewater Treatment Plant
             Huriburt Field Air Force Base
             Okaloosa County, Florida

Medium Advanced Plant

1st Places:     Wallingford Wastewater Treatment Plant
             Wallingford, Connecticut

             Tar River Water Reclamation Facility
             Louisburg, North Carolina

2nd Place:     City of Medford, Wisconsin
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Large Advanced Plant
1st Place:
2nd Place:
Western Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission

Metro Wastewater Reclamation District
Denver, Colorado
Small Non-discharging Plant
1st Place:
2nd Place:
Pelican Bay State Prison Wastewater Treatment
Plant, Crescent City, California

North County Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant
Indian River County, Vero Beach, Florida
Large Non-discharging Plant

1st Place:
City of Bartow Water Reclamation Facility
Bartow, Florida
0 & M, First Place, M-S
\fcltey Forge Sewer Authority
Phoenixviiie, PA
A home made manhole surge indicator, along with an insert and inventory of riser rings-
ad of which are used to monitor and control.

                                   9

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Most Improved Plant


John H. Samson National Award
1st Place:
Richmond Wastewater Treatment Facility
Richmond, Vermont
           104(g) Trainer: Paul Olander, Vermont
               Department of Environmental Conservation

2nd Place:        Pleasant Valley Regional Sewer District,
                  Chillicothe, Ohio


           104(g) Trainer: Ohio EPA's 104(g) Compliance
                Assistance Unit
                                            O&M, First Place, MIP
                                            Richmond WWTF
                                            Richmond, VT

                                            Staff Redesigned storage for
                                            chlorination/dectilorination
                                            chemicals, sets up custom
                                            system
                               O&M, Second Place, MIP Category
                               Pleasant Valley Regional Sewer District
                               ChflKcothe, OH

                               Staff manufactured Screening device

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               National Beneficial Use of
          Municipal Wastewater Biosolids
                   Excellence Awards
The Program

This is the tenth year of the EPA's National Biosolids awards pro-
gram 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 management practices that use wastewater biosolids
beneficially and that are environmentally 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 recog-
nizes their professional efforts. We congratulate this year's award
winners, and encourage nominations of worthy candidates for next
year's regional and national beneficial biosolids use award programs.
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The Award Categories and Criteria

The beneficial use of municipal wastewater biosolids award candi-
dates 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

•  Significant recycling/reuse of natural resources
   (e.g., nutrients, organic matter, and energy).

•  Sustained (several year), full-scale, proven operation.

•  Consistent, cost-effective operation.

•  Public acceptability.

•  Compliant with applicable Federal, State, and local regulations.

*  Excellence in project management.

For Technology Development Activities

•  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.

 •  Operationally proven.
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For Research Activities

• Greater public acceptability of biosolids beneficial use.

• Greatly improves the understanding of the environmental
  effects of beneficial use of biosolids.

• Substantial contribution toward the development of improved
  design and operation.

• Key information generated for development of improved
  biosolids regulations and guidance.

For Public Acceptance Efforts

• Demonstrated increase in public acceptance.

• Characterized by dedicated successful individual and team
  efforts.

• 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.
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The Award Process

Candidates for the six categories of national awards may be nomi-
nated by anyone including EPA Regions, States, municipalities,
consultants, researchers, or other interested parties. Some EPA
Regions are sponsoring their own awards programs, Applicants
must complete a standard nomination form with identifying infor-
mation, executive summary, facility/activity information, and
additional supporting information. Nomination guidance for the
1998 awards will be available from EPA Regional Offices in early
1998.
 Biosoiid Application \fehicle in Gastonia, NC
 Biosdids field applications Gastonia, NC
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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:           University Area Joint Authority, Wastewater
                  Operations Division, State College, Pennsylvania

2nd Place:          Commissioners of Public Works of the Town of
                  Summerville, South Carolina

Honorable Mention:  Letchworth Avenue Wastewater Treatment
                  Plant, Billerica, Massachusetts


Operating Projects Greater Than 5 mgd

1st Place:           Department of Public Works & Engineering
                  Water Operations Division
                  City of Houston, Texas

2nd Place:          Duckett Creek Sanitary District
                  St. Charles, Missouri

Honorable Mention:  Pole Bridge Creek AST Facility
                  Dekalb County, Georgia

Honorable Mention:  Department of Public Works & Utilities
                  Wastewater Treatment Division
                  City of Gastonia, North Carolina

Municipal Public Acceptance Efforts

1st Place:           Cartersville, Georgia Water Department
                             15

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                  Special Awards

For Outstanding Efforts by a Four-Member Multi-
Departmental Team that has Promoted Excellence in
Composting

                       Geoff Hill
               Maine Compost Team Member
                Maine State Planning Office

                       Mark King
               Maine Compost Team Member
        Maine Department of Environmental Protection

                       Bill Seekins
               Maine Compost Team Member
   Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources

                      Dick Verville
               Maine Compost Team Member
          University of Maine Cooperative Extension
For Outstanding Team Efforts to Overcome Odor
Problems and Gain Community Acceptance

           Springfield Water & Sewer Commission
                 Springfield, Massachusetts
     Lush green field from BiosolkJs Fertilization in Gastonia, NC
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           National Pretreatment Program
                   Excellence Awards

The Program

This is the ninth 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 recog-
nize 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.
                       Category 5 (>100 SlUs)
            County Sanitation Districts of Orange County
                         Fountain ralley, CA
             Source Control Technician sets a sampler
                as part of CSDOCS's Non-industrial
                       Source Control Project
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The Award Criteria
POTWs are judged on their performance in the following areas:
• Legal Authority
• Industrial User Permitting
• Local Limits
• Industrial User Monitoring
• Enforcement
• Environmental Achievements
• Public Outreach
• Innovations in Program Implementation


                                               Category 4 (51-100 SlUls)
                                               East Bay Municipal Utility District
                                               Oakland, CA
                                               Water Control Inspector
                                               checks sample quality after
                                               the installation of automatic sampling
                                               equipment at an industrial facility
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The Award Categories

Awards are given in five categories based on the number of signifi-
cant industrial users (SIUs): 0 -10 SIUs; 11-20 SIUs; 21 - 50 SIUs; 51
to 100 SIUs; and Greater than 100 SIUs. This year there will be first
place awards in all categories. A second place award will be in the
21 to 50 SIUs category.
The Award Process

The selection of POTWs for Pretrearment 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 applica-
tions to judge the local pretreatment programs and to choose
National Pretreatment Program Excellence Award Winners.
Category 2 (11-10 SlU's)
Anne Arundei County, Department of Public Works
Annapolis, MO
Inspecting Pretreatment System
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          National Pretreatment Program
                 Excellence Awards
              Winners and Categories
0-10 SIUs
1st Place:      City of Fort Collins, Colorado
11 - 20 SIUs
1st Place:      Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works
             Annapolis, Maryland
21 - 50 SIUs
1st Place:      Chesterfield County, Virginia
2nd Place:     Pima County Wastewater Management Division
             Tucson, Arizona
51 -100 SIUs
1st Place:      East Bay Municipal Utility District
             Oakland, California
Greater than 100 SIUs
1st Place:      County Sanitation Districts of Orange County
             Fountain Valley, California
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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 outstand-
ing, innovative and cost-effective Storm Water control programs and
projects. This awards program heightens overall public awareness of
storm water 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 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 will be two first place award winners in
the municipal category.
 First Place, Municipal Category
 City of Sacramento, CA
 Storm Water Outfall from Sump 67 inlo Elder Creek
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The Award Process

The selection of award winners begins when EPA Headquarters
solicits nominations from EPA Regional offices, States and territo-
ries. After an initial screening of these nominations at EPA Head-
quarters, 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.
Second Place, Municipal Category
Birmingham Street—Innovatiw Storm Sewer, Maplewood, MN
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           National Storm Water Program
                   Excellence Awards
                Winners and Categories
Municipal Category
1st Places:
2nd Place:
City of Sacramento, California, and
County of Sacramento, California


Birmingham Street—Innovative Storm Sewer
Maplewood, Minnesota
Industrial Category


1st Place:        Mahoning Landfill, Inc., New Springfield, Ohio


2nd Place:        NewCon, Inc., Reynoldsburg, Ohio
                                          Second Place, Industrial Category
                                          NewCon, Inc. Reynoldsburg, OH

                                          After concrete deliveries,
                                          trucks are washed out
                                          into this pit which is directed
                                          through the diversion into
                                          the recycler system
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  National Combined Sewer Overflow Control
                        Program
                  Excellence Awards
The Program

This is the sixth year that awards are presented for National
Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Program Excellence. This
years National CSO awards are 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 outstand-
ing 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 pro-
grams aimed at protecting the public's health and safety and the
nations' 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 pro-
grams.

The Award Categories and the
Award Process

First and second place awards are given in the Municipal CSO cat-
egory. The selection of award winners begins when EPA Headquar-
 ters 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

. 1st Place:       Augusta Sanitary District, Augusta, Maine

2nd Places:      Fox Metro Water Reclamation
              District/City of Aurora, Aurora, Illinois

              CSO Abatement and Wet Weather Treatment
              West Lafayette, Indiana
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