&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA832-K-98-001
October 1998
Office of Water
(4204J
1998 National
Wastewater
Management
Excellence Awards
Ceremony
O&M. 1 st Place, L-A Category
Town of Amherst Wastewater Treatment Facility No. 16
Amherst. New York
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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water October 1998
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1998 National Wastewater
Management Excellence
Awards Ceremony
Water Environment Federation Conference
Orlando, Florida
Monday, October 5, 1998
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
Billy 0. Turner
Past-President.
Water Environment Federation
Opening Remarks
and
Presentation of Awards
3. Charles Fox.
Acting Assistant Administrator for Water
US. EPA
Announcement of AWard Recipients
Michael Cook
Director.
om of WSstewater Management
U.S.EPA
• .Natlonal.Awath.bciptents*
Operations and Mahiten jn , pa
Beneficial Use of Mun1cipa Biosolids Program Winners
Pretreatment Program Winners
Storm Water Program Winners.
Combined Sewer Overflow Program Winners
RefrShmentscomp lintents of WEF I, will lcwlngthe ceremony in room4 14B.
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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) 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. 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 rec’ognize 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 imple-
mented 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 recog-
nizes 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
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 Program
This is the thirteenth year of the EPA’s National Operations and Mainte-
nance 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, 1st Place,
M-S Category
Center Street Wastewater
Treatment Plant
Mount Pleasant,
South Carolina
Effluent Reuse Pump—
used for process
washdown 1 chlorine feed
system, odor control
application, belt press
spray water, seal water,
and Irrigation,
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 I 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 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 l04(g)(I) of the Clean
Water Act.
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The Regional Award Process
State water pollution control agencies solicit nominations from wastewa-
ter 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
4wards 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.
Odor tower
O&M, 1st Place,
L-S Category
Nashua Wastewater
Treatment Facility
Nashua, New Hampshire
Instabation of a biofilter
for the sludge odor towers
was the best means for
removing additional
suffur compounds.
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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
O&M, 2nd Place, M-A Category
Seneca Wastewater Treatment Plant, WSSC, Germantown, Maryland
An Engineer provides process control tialning. A microwave link will provide Seneca operators
the capability to monitor and control Damascus while Damascus Is unstaf led.
1 L
/ i i ;
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National Operations and Maintenance
Excellence Awards
Winners and Categories
Large Advanced Plant
1St Place: Town of Amherst Wastewater Treatment Plain No.16
Amherst, New York
2nd Place: Village Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant
Fort Worth, Texas
Medium Advanced Plant
1st Place: Fremont Sanitatián District
Florence, Colorado
2nd Places: Seneca Wastewater Treatment Plant
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
Germantown, Maryland
Dyer Wastewater Treatment Plant
Dyer, Indiana
Small Advanced Plant
1st Place: Watertown Wastewater Treatment Facility
Watertown, Minnesota
2nd Place: Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District
Fort Bend, Texas
Large Secondary Plant
1st Place: Nashua Wastewater Treatment Facility
Nashua, New Hampshire
2nd Place: Bissell Point Treatment Plant
Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District
St. Louis, Missouri
Medium Secondary Plant
1 St Place: Mount Pleasant Waterworks-Center Street Wastewater
Treatnient Plant.
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
2nd Place: Dartmouth Water Pollution Control Facility
Dartmouth, Massachusetts
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Small Secondary Plant
I st Place: Cold Spring Wastewater Treatment Facility
Cold Spring, Minnesota
2nd Place: Wilton Wastewater Treatment Plant
Wilton, Maine
Large Non-discharging Plant
1st Place: Reedy Creek Improvement District
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Small Non-discharging Plant
1St Place: Kahuku Wastewater Treatment Plant
Honolulu, Hawaii
2nd Place: Town of Ahoskie Wastewater Treatment Plant
Ahoskie, North Carolina
Most Improved Plant
John H. Samson NationciAward
1st Place: Mars Hill Utility District Wastewater Treatment Plant
Mars Hill, Maine
104(g) Trainer: Nick Archer,
Environmental Specialist IV,.
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
104(g) Trainer: Donald Albert,
Environmental Engineering Manager,
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
2nd Place: Dale Sanitary District No. 1
Dale, Wisconsin
104(g) Trainer: Harold Heav tin,
Environmental Engineer,
USEPA, NPDES Support and Technical Assistance Branch
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National Beneficial Use of
Municipal Wastewater Biosolids
Excellence Awards
The Program
This is the eleventh 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 imple-
ment 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 recognizes their
professional efforts. We congratulate this year’s award winners, and
entourage nominations of worthy candidates for next year’s regional and
national beneficial biosolids use award programs.
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: I) 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.
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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.
• Resolved previous biosolids management or utilization problems.
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
Two Categories: 1) Municipal; and
2) All Others
• 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.
The Award Process
Candidates for the six categories of national awards may be nominated by
anyone including EPA Regions, States, municipalities, consultants,
researchers, or other interested parties. Some EPA Regions are sponsor-
ing 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 1999 awards will be available from EPA
Regional Offices in early 1999.
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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: Blue Heron Wastewater Treatment Facility
Titusville, Florida
2nd Place: Freemont Department of Utilities
Freemont, Nebraska
Operating Projects Greater Than 5 mgd
1st Place: City of Tacdma, Washington
2nd Place: Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority
Greenville, South Carolina
Honorable Mention: Village Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant
City of Fort Worth, Texas
Honorable Mention: Greenville Utilities Commission
Greenville, North Carolina
Research Activities
1st Place: Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
Montgomery County Regional Composting Facility
Silver Spring, Maryland
Public Acceptance Efforts
1st Place: Iowa Water Pollution Control Association
Ames, Iowa
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SPECIAL AWARDS
For Maintaining and Sharing Information on an Outstanding Septage
Management Program
Tim Frank Septage Tank Cleaning Co.
Huntsburg, Ohio
For Sustained Excellence in Mine Land Reclamation Using Biosolids
Philadelphia Water Department
Mine Reclamation Program
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
For Outstanding Reclamation of Large Acreages of Industrial Deposits
Using Biosolids from Many Ohio Communities
Lime Lakes Reclamation Project
PPG Industries
Barberton, Ohio
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The Program
National Pretreatment Program
Excellence Awards
This is the tenth 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.
1st place,
Category 3 (21 - 50 SIUs)
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, Martinex, Calilornia
Source control inspectors sample the wastewater discharge outside a Contra Costa county
plating company.
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The Award Criteria
POTWs are judged on their performance in the following areas:
7 Legal Authority
* Industrial User Permitting
* Local Limits
* Industrial User Monitoring
* Enforcement
* Environmental Achievements
* Public Outreach
* Innovations in Program Implementation
The Award Categories
Awards are given in five categories based on the number of significant
industrial users (SIUs):
o - 10 S IUs; II -20 SIUs; 21 - 50 SIUs; 51 to 100 S JUs; and Greater than
100 SIUs. This year there will be first place awards in all categories. A
second place award will be in 0 - 10 SIUs, 11 - 20 S IUs, and 21 - 50 SIUs
categories.
The Award Process
The selection of PQTWs for Pretreatment Program Excellence Awards
begins when EPA Headquarters solicits nominations from the 10 EPA
Regions. Nominated POTWs are asked to complete an awards applica-
tion. An Awards Review Committee, comprised of pretreatment experts
from across the country, evaluates applications to judge the local pretreat-
ment programs and to choose National Pretreatment Program Excellence
Award Winners.
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National Pretreatment Program
Excellence Awards
Winners and Categories
0- 10 SIUs
1st Place: City of Broomfield, Colorado
2nd Place: City of Maryville Utilities
Maryville, Tennessee
11- 20 SIUs
1st Place: City of Fayetteville Paul R. Noland Wastewater
Treatment Facility
Fayetteville, Arkansas
2nd Place: City of Boulder, Colorado
21-5OSIUs
I st Place: Central Contra Costa Sanitary District
Martinez, California
2nd Place: Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission
Eugene/Springfield, Oregon
51 - 100 SIUs
1st Place: Wichita Water and Sewer Department
Wichita, Kansas
Greater than 100 S IUs
1st Place: Narragansett Bay Water Quality Management
District Commission
Providence, Rhode Island
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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 encourage public support of programs aimed at protecting
the public’s health and safety and the nation’s water quality.
An Awards Review Comm ittee 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 second place award winners in the
industrial category.
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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 Excel-
lence Award winners.
1st Place,
Industrial Category Stadium Auto Parts
Denver, Colorado
Oil containment
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National Storm Water Program
Excellence Awards
Winners and Categories
Municipal Category
1st Place: Low-Impact Development
Department of Environmental Resources
Prince Georges County, Maryland
2nd Place: City of Fort Worth, Texas
Industrial Category
I st Place: Stadium Auto Parts, Inc.
Denver, Colorado
2nd Places: Doggett Auto Parts, Inc.
Bryan, Texas
Capo’s Auto Parts, Inc.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
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National Combined Sewer Overflow Control
Program
Excellence Awards
The Program
This is the seventh year that awards are presented for National Combined
Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Program Excellence. This years National
CSO award is presented to one first place winner. 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 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 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
1st Place: City of Saginaw
Saginaw, Michigan
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For more information on the U.S. 1 PA National and Rt giona1 WasteWater Man-
agement Excellence Awards program contact your state water pollution control
agency, the U.S. EPA offices or WEF at the following locations:
Region I
Water Management Division
JFK Federal Building,
One Congress Street
Boston, MA 02203-0001
(617) 565-3517
Region 2
Water Management Division
290 Broadway
New York, NY 10007-1866
(215) 637-3836
Region 3
Water Management Division
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
(215) 814-5788
Region 4
Water Management Division
61 Forsyth Street
Atlanta, GA. 30303
(404) 562-9280 ext 29248
Region 5
Environmental Services DivisiOn
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604-3507
(312) 353-5784
Region 6
Water Management Division
Fountain Place,
12th Floor, Suite 1200
1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202
(214) 655-7169
Region 7
Water Management Division
726 Minnesota Avenue
KanMas City KS 66101
(913) 551-7417
Region 8
Water Management Division
999 18th Street, Suite 500
Denver, CO 80202-2405
(303) 312-6280
Region 9
Water Management Division
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 744-1910
Region 10
Water Management Division
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 553-1837
Headquarters
Office of Wastewater Management
401 M Street, S.W. (4204)
Washington, D.C. 20460
(202) 260-5815
The Water Environment Federation
(WEF)
Attn: Technical Services
601 Wythe Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 684-2400
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