23 rd Annual U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clean Water Act Recognition Awards The following winners of the 23rd Annual U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Water Act (CWA) Recognition Awards have demonstrated outstanding achievements in the water quality field. Nominated by regulators and evaluated by specially appointed selection panels, these U.S. wastewater treatment facilities, programs, and projects met EPA's rigorous criteria and were honored at an awards ceremony held during WEFTEC®.08 in Chicago. The CWA Recognition Awards Program began with the National Operations and Maintenance Awards in 1985, to recognize communities that have achieved outstanding operations and maintenance (O&M) programs at publicly-owned wastewater treatment facilities. The O&M 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, the program was expanded to include Biosolids Awards to recognize outstanding biosolids management. In 1989, the Pretreatment Awards were added to recognize municipal implementation and enforcement of local pretreatment programs. In 1991, the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Awards and the Storm Water Management Awards were added to recognize outstanding wastewater management programs and projects. For more information on the national awards program, contact Matthew Richardson in EPA's Office of Wastewater Management at (202) 564-2947. ------- OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE AWARDS The National O&M Awards recognize communities that have achieved outstanding O&M programs or practices at their wastewater treatment facilities. The award evaluation criteria considers permit compliance, field monitoring, process control, pollution prevention, laboratory and financial management, equipment maintenance, and other key operating requirements. Award nominees are recognized in nine O&M categories based on the facility's treatment level and flow capacity. Large Advanced Plant 1st Place Award F. Wayne Hill Water Resource Center Buford, Ga., EPA Region 4 Design flow: 29 mgd (110,000 m3/d) 2007 Peak flow: 23.4 mgd (88,600 m3/d) 2007 Average flow: 19.5 mgd (73,800 m3/d) Service population and area: 776,000 over 432 mi (695 km2) The F. Wayne Hill Water Resource Center (WRC) is recognized for its innovative development in the fields of automation, pollution prevention and public outreach. Through new technologies, educational programs and working with the community of Gwinnett, Ga.; WRC has the reputation as a leader of facility processes. WRC has become one of the most advanced technological facilities through its pioneering automation system that has cut costs, increased environmental stability, and bested the parameters set by their permit. Through the use of automation, many of the operational tasks that typical facilities encounter can be accomplished without operator intervention. Furthermore, the DCS alerts operators when maintenance needs to be completed on facility instruments, cutting the cost of labor. WRC has stringent discharge limitations and uses automation to help meet those parameters. The DCS automatically diverts wastewater to one of the eight 20-million-gal (76-million-L) storage tanks when it detects effluent discharges above or below specified limits. Because of the work of the WRC and the DCS, the facility has not violated its limits since 2001. Automation has also enabled efficient staffing of the facility with minimal operators required to maintain the WRC. WRC works continuously to manage its pollution. Using the carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand test, more than 99% of organic material has been removed from wastewater that passes through the facility. Other operations used are biological treatment processes, precipitation for removing heavy metals, and oxidation and absorption. To reduce energy needs, biogas from the anaerobic digesters is burned to produce heat, and a portion of the wastewater received during the day is stored and treated at night, when electrical costs are lower. In addition to the process described above, the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center was built at the WRC to promote pollution prevention and to work with the community. A green roof ------- was constructed as well as pervious paving, bio-swales and wetlands to establish better management of storm water runoff. The facility uses sunlight to cut energy costs, along with low- flow toilets and grounds irrigated with reclaimed water. Through education, community programs, and forming the Citizen's Advisory Board, the WRC has continued to promote leadership in the community by implementing modern environmental techniques, capturing the attention of the people it serves. Large Advanced Plant. 1 f Place Award El Paso Water Utilities Public Service Board Northwest Wastewater Treatment Facility El Paso, Texas, EPA Region 6 Design flow: 17.5 mgd (66,300 m3/d) 2007 Peak flow: 20.4 ingd (77,200 mVd) 2007 Average flow: 8 mgd (30,000 m3/d) Service population and area: 84,450 over 63 mi2 (100 kin2) The El Paso Water Utilities Public Service Board (EPWU) is recognized for outstanding excellence in operations and maintenance. Since 1999, EPWU has administered 2.3 billion gal (8.7 billion L) of reclaimed water to El Paso and continues to reduce its dependency on drinking water. EPWU serves a community of nearly 85,000, supplying reclaimed water to elementary, middle, and high schools; private residences; and multiple city parks. Through its efforts, the facility has been able to save water and monetary resources. In 2003 EPWU worked through mechanical enhancements for its sand filter treatment units. The facility was able to save The El Paso (Texas) Water Utilities Public Service Board is recognized for outstanding excellence in operations and maintenance. Since 1999, the agency has administered 2.3 billion gal (8.7 billion L) of reclaimed water to El Paso. ------- approximately $21,000 and nearly 17 million gal (64 million L) of water. By using reclaimed water in its polymer mixing tanks, rather than potable water, EPWU decreased its drinking water usage by 99.9%. EPWU has instituted safety training courses and incentives to employees for staying safe and free of injury. It provides a wellness clinic and an emergency response action plan for staff. Because of its incentives package, there were no work-related injuries at the facility from April 2007 to March 2008. In March 2008, the Water Environment Association of Texas recognized EPWU for its achievement with the George Burke Safety award. EPWU integrated a computer-based predictive/preventive maintenance (PPM) system so information could be more readily available for processing. The PPM provides historical trends and statistical analysis and determines problem areas. Among other tasks, the PPM system calculates the cost of labor and equipment for maintenance planning. Over the next several years, EPWU hopes to develop its internal communications. New equipment has been purchased for future use in the supervisory control and data acquisition, which will allow communication to a main computer. Crews are being trained on how to use the new technology. Ultimately, crews will receive reports, schedules, work orders, and general communication through this system. The administration of EPWU has established a quality facility by maximizing the output of reclaimed water, enhancing the facility processes, and providing an optimal work environment for the staff. Medium Advanced Plant 1st Place Award City of Newnan - Wahoo Creek Water Pollution Control Plant Newnan, Ga., EPA Region 4 Design Flow: 3.0 mgd (11,000 m3/d) 2007 Peak Flow: 4.45 mgd (16,800 m3/d) 2007 Average Flow: 2.22 mgd (8,400 m3/d) Service population and area: 27,000 over 19 mi2 (49 km2) Wahoo Creek Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) is recognized for its excellent record of proactive maintenance, inspection, and management practices. Wahoo Creek relies on an integrated and proactive operation and maintenance program, a grease trap maintenance program and extensive employee training to ensure plant effectiveness. This medium-sized facility has been in operation since 1974 and serves approximately 19,000 people. Wahoo Creek WPCP developed a state-of-the-art composting facility in 2006 to create an alternative to landfilling. The facility produces Excellent-Quality rated compost that can be used as a soil amendment or additive for landscape agriculture or topsoil remediation. At the ------- current rate of increase in trucking costs, Wahoo Creek WPCP estimates that using the composting facility will save more than $2.5 million during the next 10 years. An integrated operation, maintenance, and preventative maintenance program is also in place at Wahoo Creek. A computer-based system identifies trends in work performed as well as faulty equipment to track potential issues; the system also sends e-mail reminders for maintenance. All vital equipment is linked to a supervisory control and data acquisition system and any malfunctions trigger remote alerts that are automatically reported to a continuously staffed main control room. Wahoo Creek WPCP has implemented a grease trap program to encourage standard maintenance and monitoring requirements among its customers. This program assists food service facilities in preventing excessive grease introduction into the system, which prevents clogging and blocking (and the damage caused by the resulting flooding and back ups) and aids in recovering the cost associated with sewer cleaning and maintenance. A service contractor uses the recovered grease to produce biodiesel for boilers and generators, reducing the amount of waste hauled to landfills. Wahoo Creek WPCP has reduced sanitary sewer overflows by 60% in the past 4 years by installing a degreaser in its lift station and performing monthly maintenance — cleaning and root cutting — in clogged lines. Safety education is importance to the WPCP. In-house training (with attendance records), certifications, newsletters, safety audits, and many other approaches are used to minimize time lost to accidents. As of May 2008, there had been no accidents in the past 15 months. Through its continued improvements Wahoo Creek WPCP has demonstrated a commitment to providing exceptional function and cost efficiency while preserving the environment. Medium Advanced Plant 2nd Place Award City of Grandville Wastewater Treatment Plant Grandville, Mich., EPA Region 5 Design flow: 4.4 mgd (17,000 m3/d) 2007 Peak flow: 8.3 mgd (31,000 m3/d) 2007 Average flow: 4.67 mgd (17,700 m3/d) Service population and area: 70,500 over 56 mi2 (90 km2) The City of Grandville Wastewater Treatment Plant (Grandville) is recognized for its outstanding development since the 1930s when it was first constructed as a large septic tank. Today, the plant is a secondary treatment facility with an expanded capacity of approximately 4.4 mgd (17,000 m3/d), with the ability to divert additional stormwater to the City of Wyoming through a pump station. Working with the community and surrounding plants downriver, Grandville has continued to improve its treatment processes and update equipment including in 2001 update to ultraviolet disinfection from chlorine gas, and in 2002 additional on-site power generation equipment to allow for operation during outages. ------- Grandville has been known for its reduction of mercury over the past several years. Since 2002, it has reduced effluent mercury concentrations by nearly 72%. To encourage mercury reductions, Grandville hosted a workshop that targeted the dental community. With cooperation from the dental community, Grandville was not only able to identify primary concerns with discharges from dental offices; it was able to work with professionals to develop new practices that have led to a reduction in mercury levels. In 1995, Grandville decided on a diversion of up to 3 mgd (11,000 m3/d) to the Wyoming Clean Water Plant (City, State). Influent flows continue to increase, and have prompted a plant expansion, which is scheduled for 2009. Beginning in 2006, Grandville has been testing a luminescent dissolved oxygen system to see if it could lower maintenance costs compared to traditional dissolved oxygen meters. The plant has been using the new equipment for 14 months, and implementation has needed no extra maintenance for calibration. This frees employees to perform other tasks. In 2005, the plant repaired manhole structures in flood-prone areas of the sanitary sewer collection system to minimize inflow. This change has eliminated overflows and bypasses in the past 2 years. Through research, implementation, and community maintenance, Grandville has reduced mercury levels while expanding the sewage capacity of its facility. Small Advanced Plant 1st Place Award Village of Waterville, Wastewater Treatment Facility Waterville, N.Y.; EPA Region 2 Design Flow: 0.3 mgd (1100 m3/d) 2007 Peak Flow: 0.4 mgd (1,500 m3/d) 2007 Average Flow: 0.179 mgd (678 m3/d) Service population and area: 1741 over 4 mi2 (10 km2) The Village of Waterville Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) is recognized for its proactive approach to maintenance, process control, and plant improvements, which enable efficient and cost effective plant operations. The small facility serves approximately 1741 people. The Waterville WWTF has developed a strong relationship with its community, as well as other wastewater professionals, by hosting workshops and open houses and by distributing compost to local citizens. In addition, the plant's chief operator regularly makes updates to the plant to conserve energy and maximize efficiency. No violations were reported at the facility in 2006 or 2007. The key to the plant's success is Chief Operator Louie Langone who has been integral in making positive changes in plant operations and fostering strong public relations. Langone has made updates to ensure that the plant operates as efficiently as possible. These updates include replacing diffusers to reduce electricity usage, installing variable frequency drivers to enable the blower to run at a lower level when possible, and installing a dissolved oxygen monitoring ------- system in the aeration tank to improve efficiency. Filaments were a frequent issue at the plant until a selector unit was installed. Since then, filaments have been a problem only once. These alterations improve the plant's effluent quality and save $500 in electricity each month. To ensure that the facility continues to function at peak efficiency, Langone maintains steady activated sludge performance, ensures regular solids disposal and properly maintains plant equipment. Extensive logs are kept of all testing and maintenance schedules and results, and all observations are noted with an eye toward improvement. Public education also is extremely important to Langone, who annually hosts a "field exercise" for local middle school classes to teach students how a treatment facility works and the importance of water use awareness. Other wastewater professionals are also welcome in the WWTF. Langone often hosts open houses and workshops as well as tours open to the public. In addition to improving process control and providing public education, the plant's staff identified composting as a more economical option for solids handling than land application or land-filling. Existing covered drying beds were modified for use in composting operations and wood chips for compost filler are collected from other local agencies. The finished compost is distributed free to the public and landscape services, further improving the plant's community relations. The Waterville (N.Y.) Wastewater Treatment Facility is recognized for its proactive approach to maintenance, process control, and plant improvements, which enable efficient and cost effective plant operations. The facility serves about 1700 people and has developed a strong relationship with its community, as well as other wastewater professionals, by hosting workshops and open houses and by distributing compost to local citizens. ------- Small Advanced Plant 2nd Place Award Beaver Estates Water Pollution Control Plant Douglasville, Ga.; EPA Region 4 Design Flow: 0.08 mgd (300 m3/d) 2007 Peak Flow: 0.053 mgd (201 m3/d) 2007 Average Flow: 0.030 mgd (114 m3/d) Service population and area: 700 over 0.34 mi2 (0.88 km2) Beaver Estates Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) is recognized for its consistent performance and commitment to proactive maintenance and management as well as its extensive public education program. The small WPCP serves approximately 700 people and operates as part of the Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority. Beaver Estates is a self- sustaining plant that has instituted an aggressive infiltration and inflow (I/I) program and an extensive septage management program to ensure efficient operations. The facility's last reportable violation occurred in January of 2005. The Beaver Estates WPCP is completely financially self-sustaining through user and impact fees (capital recovery charges). The rate structure is designed to recover the costs of operating and maintaining infrastructure, current debt service, and recurring revenue-funded capital improvements. Tiered user rates encourage water conservation with higher-rate levels applied to those using more water per meter size. Constant improvement in treatment options and attention to decreasing illegal water consumption also help to ensure financial integrity. The plant's aggressive I/I program tracks per-customer water consumption and wastewater production and discharge trends. As part of the I/I program, the authority performs smoke testing, dye testing, and flow monitoring, and ensures prompt system repair or replacement at potential I/I areas. All results are tracked; I/I has been reduced to just 1% of plant flow in the Beaver Estates WPCP basin. The authority's extensive process control and monitoring plan is tracked using a software system that generates all wastewater National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System reports. In addition to the testing and monitoring described above, the authority schedules and regularly performs detailed manhole inspections, mapping, and field verification activities, monitoring unpaved areas for erosion, and video monitoring to ensure system efficiency. The WPCP's laboratory has won multiple awards for quality assurance, ensuring that all testing is performed properly and that all results are accurate. Beaver Estates WPCP developed and implemented a comprehensive septage management program with the goals of educating residents on the importance of septage management, protecting water quality, providing the means to regulate and monitor septage waste haulers, limiting septage received to that generated in the county, monitoring water and wastewater volumes, tracking costs, and complementing the authority's watershed protection program. Additionally, the authority's public education program informs customers of the importance of ------- pollution prevention, proper grease disposal methods, and any other topic of timely relevance. Information is routinely sent through the mail in bill stuffers. Established programs developed for the proper design, installation, maintenance, and routine inspections of the Beaver Estates collection system serve to minimize the potential for sanitary sewer overflows and have allowed the facility to function efficiently with no overflows in the past 2 years. Large Secondary Plant 1 f Place Award Joint Water Pollution Control Plant Carson, Calif., EPA Region 9 Design flow: 400 mgd (1,500,000 m3/d) 2007 Peak flow: 392 mgd (1,480,000 m3/d) 2007 Average flow: 316 mgd (1,200,000 m3/d) Service population and area: 5,100,000 over 658 mi2 (1058.9 km2) The Joint Water Pollution Control Plant (JWPCP) is acknowledged for its outstanding progress and innovations in biosolids management. Since forming the joint outfall system that includes trunk systems, pump stations, water reclamation plants, and the JWPCP, the plant has managed the full removal of biosolids from 73 cities upstream of the facility. JWPCP has not only advanced its biosolids management facilities, but has also been the innovator of many of new technologies. JWPCP is ranked number 17 on EPA's National Top 25 List of Green Power Partners because of its energy practices and management. Roughly 95% of the power used is produced by an engine-generator running on digester gas, which in turn can be sold back to the power grid during periods of low power consumption. JWPCP has a consistent ability to develop quality process control and monitoring within its facility. Through continuous research and development, it has implemented digester gas generators, saving the districts roughly $18 million per year; it has increased overall The Joint Water Pollution Control Plant (Carson, Calif.) has advanced biosolids management by creating a system to accept biosolids from 73 upstream cities. The plant also has spearheaded research on energy cogeneration, odor control, and biosolids composting and pathogen reduction. ------- solids content from 20% to about 27%; and composting research has led to more efficient processes and a decrease in pathogen count, producing nearly no pollutant emissions. Furthermore, JWPCP has taken several steps in diversifying its methods of recycling to include composting sites, farms, sanitary landfills, and cement kilns. In addition, JWPCP, with its plant research staff, constructed biotrickling filters that replaced the existing caustic scrubbers. This research has led to advances in biotrickling filtration, including a porous rock media in a continuously wetted environment to support the growth of hydrogen sulfide-removing microorganisms and using wood chips and compost to provide nutrients and promote growth of microorganisms. Because of this work, biofilters have successfully diminished odors by more than 90%. JWPCP is working to add radar level detectors to the remaining four digesters it manages, as well as applying new sensors in tanks storing raw solids to monitor and measure solids levels. In preliminary testing, new sensors have allowed for favorable sludge levels and safer working conditions inside tanks. JWPCP is committed to reducing emissions from its vehicle fleet, including converting light-duty vehicles to compressed natural gas; using scooters, bicycles, and industrial tricycles to transport employees to jobs that don't require heavy tools; and offering rideshare incentives for employees. The outstanding management of JWPCP in the fields of biosolids and environmental systems, coupled with its innovative pollution prevention techniques, has substantiated its continued commitment to the excellence of its plant and the community it serves. Large Secondary Plant 2nd Place Award Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Martinez, Calif., EPA Region 9 Design flow: 53.8 mgd (204,000 m3/d) 2007 Peak flow: 109 mgd (413,000 m3/d) 2007 Average flow: 51.4 mgd (195,000 m3/d) Service population and area: 449,000 over 140 mi2 (225 km2) The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District has continued to implement new programs and policies with the understanding of the future environment and its variable implications. Working with the community, the district has worked diligently to reduce pollution and clean up waste, spreading its example to schools, laymen, and professionals. A proactive training program, pollution prevention, and collection system maintenance management has made the district a high-performance leader with nearly 10 years of 100% compliance with its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. Serving a population of nearly half a million people, the district continues to win the recognition of those it serves. In 2007, the district received the Collection System of the Year award from the California Water Environment Association for its reduction of annual occurring sanitary sewer ------- overflows (SSOs) — decreasing from 290 in 1990 to 81 in 2007 — and it was recently designated a Climate Action Leader. During the next 5 tolO years, the District will have the majority of its workers and professionals retire. In light of these circumstances, a series of programs have been developed to bring professional support to the facility's needs while simultaneously assisting the surrounding community. The developed programs include a 3- to 4-year training course working with developing plant operators, the plant information management system that contains hundreds of training sessions, an engineering rotation program, and college-level classes that are taught at the district on such subjects as math, water distribution, and wastewater collection. The district also works directly with pollution-related issues, pioneering new and innovative ways of attacking problems. In 2007 it worked with a dental amalgam program, which effectively reduced effluent mercury concentrations by more than 50%. Furthermore, the district has gone above and beyond its conventional pretreatment program, entering an interagency watershed partnership that administers stormwater inspections in central Contra Costa County. The district will be finalizing a 10-year plan that reserves $122 million for environmental processes within the plant. With excellent funding and knowledgeable personnel, the district is expected to invest more money in environmental processes. By forming collaborative partnerships with other local agencies and engaging the community, the district strives to be a good neighbor and practices positive environmental stewardship. With a demonstrated quality performance record, the district has reduced SSOs and effluent mercury while optimizing the progress of the plant. Medium Non-Discharging Plant 1st Place Award Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant, City of Vidalia, ESG Operations Vidalia, Ga.; EPA Region 4 Design Flow: 2.400 mgd (9084 m3/d) 2007 Peak Flow: 1.708 mgd (6465 m3/d) 2007 Average Flow: 1.105 mgd (4182 m3/d) Service population and area: 5,426 over 8.5 mi2 (22 km2) The Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is recognized for its excellent performance standards, effective process control, high level of employee training, and proactive maintenance program. Southside has also made system alterations, which improve effluent and ensure permit compliance and plant efficiency. Computerized systems ensure timely maintenance and track operational deficiencies, and employees are cross-trained and certified to maximize productivity and minimize safety issues. Southside WWTP is a medium-sized plant serving5426 people. The facility applies treated effluent to 505 ac (204 ha) of pine trees and implements a comprehensive process control ------- strategy to ensure that negative environmental effects are avoided. Southside WWTP uses software that tracks operational and laboratory data to generate trends and reports that highlight problem areas and help identify potential improvements. Examining the trends and reports can also help the facility avoid or promptly address issues that might cause plant malfunction and affect the environment. Operators generate standard operating procedures, job safety analyses, and unit process control procedures. They also establish target values for each operations process to maintain full compliance. Physical improvements have been made to the plant to improve efficiency. Bar screens were upgraded, additional box screens were installed to reduce debris transport to the settling pond, and the flow path from the holding pond to the settling pond was rerouted, which also helped to minimize debris transport. Every employee is cross-trained and certified in water and wastewater treatment and is versed in basic plant maintenance. Individual training plans include correspondence courses, short schools, and on-the-job and formal, in-house training. Employees also undergo extensive and continuous safety training including weekly discussions, monthly meetings, quarterly reviews, walkthroughs, and a yearly cash bonus incentive for accident-free employees. The training and safety programs have been highly successful as evidenced by the extremely effective staff and the absence of any safety-related accidents since May of 2003. Southside WWTP has a comprehensive field-monitoring program for the spray heads on its land application equipment to prevent water ponding and runoff. Metal identification tags for cooperati ve spray head monitoring allow for the continuous tracking and adjustment of spray direction and intensity to eliminate problem areas. The facility has employed a computerized maintenance and management system that prolongs equipment life and assures equipment operating efficiency. The computerized operations and maintenance program (COMP) monitors preventive, corrective, and predictive maintenance by tracking data sets including equipment and facility information, staffing information, and documentation of preventative maintenance. In addition to the physical monitoring, Southside WWTP relies on the COMP to provide predictive maintenance information, which enables the plant to address and fix potentially damaging issues before they arise. This has allowed for a much more proactive approach to plant maintenance. ¦kP mm* -m The Sam Hobbs Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (Casper, Wyo.) is recognized for the exemplary implementation of its industrial pretreatment program. The program developed robust, mass-based local limits, an outstanding grease control program, and a nonhazardous industrial waste program. Since the inception of this program, no petroleum or noncompatible wastes have been detected at the wastewater facility's headworks. ------- Small Non-Discharging Plant 1st Place Award The Manor Water Reclamation Facility Alpharetta, Ga.; EPA Region 4 Design Flow: 0.5 mgd (2000 m3/d) 2007 Peak Flow: 0.126 mgd (477 m3/d) 2007 Average Flow: 0.046 mgd (174 m3/d) Service population and area: 283 over 4 mi2 (10 km2) The Manor Water Reclamation Facility (WRF), a small facility serving approximately 283 people in Alpharetta, Ga., is recognized for its outstanding compliance record, effective automation system, proactive equipment maintenance, and commitment to protecting the environment and community. The Manor WRF emphasizes operational and process improvements to ensure energy efficiency and strives to ensure a positive relationship with contractors, Forsyth County, community residents, and a neighboring golf course. This relationship is evidenced by the cooperation among all parties. The Manor WRF has maintained 100% permit compliance — earning it the Georgia Association of Water Professionals Gold Award — and has met self-imposed process limits to produce a superior quality effluent that is used to maintain an on-site, 18-holegolf course and to irrigate the lawns of nearby homes. The Manor WRF operates a closed-loop treatment system with management initiatives designed to ensure that its effluent has no negative effects on surface water, groundwater, air quality, or human health. The facility has received no complaints from residents or those using the golf course where the facility's effluent is applied. As of May 2008, the Manor WRF recorded 1054 safe days with no U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration-reportable accidents or lost workdays as a result of on-site accidents. The facility runs an efficient, automated system using a membrane process for ultrafiltration and with hollow-fiber membranes and closed vessel ultraviolet disinfection. The Manor WRF uses a supervisory control and data acquisition system and engineering controls to contribute to many control and time-saving benefits associated with in-line membrane cleaning, automatic air cycling between process lines, preset back pulse cycles for membranes, process air timer and variable speed settings, automatic equipment switch over, adjustable flow-control valves, and automatic dialer for plant emergencies, among others. The Manor WRF also has fine-tuned the automation to further increase energy savings and make process improvements. This attention to detail has resulted in better bacteriological control, a decrease in blower run times, a decrease in machine downtime and breakdowns, improved process control, and a higher level of overall plant safety. The Manor WRF's proactive approach to equipment maintenance management includes extensive use of software to track and document equipment, gauge readings, parts, materials, and vendors. The capabilities of the software have resulted in reduced equipment downtime, better planning, space savings, and labor cost reduction. Cost-effectiveness and efficiency are also maximized through tracking power usage and fuel consumption. ------- Most Improved Plant 1st Place Award Bristol Wastewater Treatment Plant Bristol, N.H.; EPA Region 1 Design Flow: 0.5 mgd (1900 m3/d) 2007 Peak Flow: 0.509 mgd (1930 m3/d) 2007 Average Flow: 0.19 mgd (720 m3/d) Service population and area: 1900 over 2 mi2 (5 km2) The Bristol, N.H, Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is recognized for its marked decrease in violations since 2002. The facility is a small, secondary WWTP serving approximately 1900 people. In a 16-month period during 2002 and 2003, the plant reported 34 violations, mostly related to biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS). Through the combined efforts of plant personnel and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services technical assistance provider, the number of violations was reduced to four in 2006, zero in 2007 and one as of May 2008. This decrease is attributed to a successful partnership with a state trainer under the Clean Water Act section 104(g) program and the dedication and ingenuity of plant operators. After evaluating the major unit processes and influent characteristics, performing a sludge accountability analysis, and conducting a solids handling evaluation, Bristol WWTP and the state trainer formulated recommendations to address violations by identifying and implementing process-control and sludge-handling improvements, as well as cold-weather operational improvements. The process and influent evaluation revealed low food to microorganism ratio filamentous bulking and an old, over-oxidized sludge, which led to TSS violations and indicated that the mixed liquor solids inventory was too high for the applied BOD load. In addition, the facility was not operating its belt press enough to ensure wasting room in the solids holding tank. Bristol WWTP, under the guidance of the trainer, reduced mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) in the oxidation ditch from 4000 mg/L to 2000 mg/L and provided better chlorination to reduce filament production. The operators improved solids wasting rates by installing a sight-tube on the outside of the holding tank to facilitate monitoring of the solids level and increased operation of the belt press to keep a lower solids inventory, thereby improving settling and helping to control filament production. Bristol WWTP implemented cold-weather operational improvements that increased plant efficiency to optimize plant function. These innovations are notable because they were designed by plant personnel and provided substantial monetary savings to the plant. Plant personnel devised a temporary cover constructed of lumber framework covered in shrink-wrap that prevents ice formation in the clarifier at a capital cost of approximately $1500 as opposed to the $12,000 to $75,000 estimates the plant received for manufactured covers. The shrink-wrap cover proved very effective, raising the temperature and melting the ice forming in the clarifier within 30 minutes of installation. Freezing rotors in the oxidation ditch were also addressed very cost-effectively. A homemade, heated splashguard (constructed from heat trace wire, chicken fencing, polystyrene foam ------- insulation and tin roofing) eliminated freezing in the oxidation ditch and improved plant efficiency for about $500, which was recouped in the first month of use. The solids pipeline also was excavated and reset to ensure complete drainage and prevent freezing; a second line also was placed for future use. In addition to cost savings, these innovations eliminated hours of time spent thawing frozen lines with blowtorches and de-icing various pieces of equipment, providing operators more time to properly perform necessary plant inspections and maintenance and decreasing the probability of neglect-based operations issues. Bristol WWTP has plans in place to ensure continued compliance, as well as to improve plant operation efficiency in the future. The plant will install a speed control for the rotors to maintain desired oxygen levels in the oxidation ditch, PVC covers will replace the shrink-wrap surrounding the clarifiers, and the current lumber conveyor belt and homemade filtrate handling system will be replaced with modern technology. A laboratory that is more conducive to accurate monitoring and testing also will be constructed to ensure that the plant is functioning properly. ------- EXEMPLIARY BIOSOLIDS MANAGEMENT The National Exemplary Biosolids Management Program Awards were created to encourage the development and use of cost-effective and environmentally safe biosolids management practices. This year's awards recognize exemplary biosolids management in three categories: operating projects of greater than 5 dry tons per day (ton/d), less than 5 dry ton/d and public acceptance activities. The operating project categories consider outstanding achievements through long-term sustainability of beneficial reuse programs, comprehensive public acceptance programs, and innovative cost-saving measures. The public acceptance category this year recognizes a collaboration of researchers that generated critical information on land application of biosolids along with a unique multimedia public education program to convey information to the public, increasing the acceptance and demand for biosolids and expanding local urban and farmland markets. Large Operating Projects (greater than 5 dry ton/d) 1st Place A ward Lawrence Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facility Lawrence, Kan.; EPA Region 7 increased public acceptance by composting to produce a Class A-Exceptional Quality product for residential use. The Lawrence Municipal WWTF has been beneficially using biosolids since 1956. Currently, 90% to 95% of the biosolids are applied to agricultural fields, while the remainder is made available to the public as Class A- Exceptional Quality compost through a giveaway program. The Lawrence Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) is recognized for implementing a highly successful, large biosolids management program that has enjoyed a high degree of public acceptance from city residents and local farmers because of its comprehensive public acceptance program. The biosolids management program has improved the sustainability of plant operations through land application of Class B material to farmland and The Lawrence (Kansas) Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facility is recognized for implementing a highly successful, large biosolids management program that has enjoyed a high degree of public acceptance from city residents and local farmers because of its comprehensive public acceptance program. The success of the facility's public education program is evidenced by a consistent demand for its Class A-Exceptional Quality biosolids product that exceeds supply. ------- The giveaway is part of a broader program designed to educate the public about biosolids, wastewater treatment, and land application and to increase public acceptance of biosolids. The Lawrence Municipal WWTF's extensive public acceptance program emphasizes not only educating the public, but also ensuring the longevity of the programs used by familiarizing the public with operational practices. Exhibit booths are used to educate citizens at local functions, tours of both the WWTF and land application areas are available, and written materials are frequently developed to assist in promotional activities and contribute to existing documentation. The WWTF uses media, news releases, newsletters, and public contacts to keep the pubic informed of its accomplishments. The facility also maintains an open attitude toward any and all changes in plant operations and appearance and always assesses how these changes might affect the public. The success of Lawrence Municipal WWTF's public education program is evidenced by a consistent demand for its Class A-Exceptional Quality biosolids product that exceeds supply. In addition, complaints are infrequent, and public satisfaction with the city's response is high. Participation in nationwide projects demonstrates the facility's commitment to maintaining up- to-date operations and knowledge. In October of 2005, Lawrence became the 10th agency to receive National Biosolids Partnership Environmental Management System (EMS) certification. Upon receiving the certification, the city decided to expand the EMS to include the entire wastewater utility. In accomplishing this, Lawrence became the first agency to integrate the EMS for biosolids with the International Organization of Standards (Geneva, Switzerland) 14001 environmental management system and the Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series 18001 safety management standards into a single management system that incorporates all three standards. Lawrence was also accepted into the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Performance Track Program in 2007. Large Operating Projects (greater than 5 dry ton/d) 2nd Place Award City of St. Peters Spencer Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and Organic Resource Recycling Program St. Peters, Mo.; EPA Region 7 The city of St. Peters is recognized for successfully managing its biosolids beneficial use land application program, thereby meeting all state and federal requirements for more than 20 years. Since the mid-1980s, St. Peters has been cost-effectively operating its Organic Resource Recycling Program, producing products that are beneficial to the local community and providing an alternative fertilizer nutrient source for the agricultural community. The Organic Resource Recycling Program annually uses 5 to 7 million gal (19 to 26 million L) of biosolids at 5% solids from the St. Peters Spencer Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), 10,000 to 12,000 wet ton (9100 to 11,000 wet Mg) of 25% biosolids cake from the Metropolitan St. Louis (Mo.) Sewer District (MSD), and 4 million gal (approximately 15 million L) of liquid lime residuals, at 245 solids, from the city's water purification plant. Biosolids from ------- Spencer Creek WWTP are injected into the soils of city-owned and private croplands. MSD biosolids are land-applied or composted. The liquid lime waste is used in the land application program to adjust soil pH for optimum crop nutrient uptake. St. Peters began to collect and process yard waste in 1990 to divert green waste from landfills. In 1999 the facility began using biosolids to maintain optimum carbon/nitrogen ratios in the compost and generate a more consistent product. Biosolids and yard waste are composted at the Earth Centre Composting facility to produce a Class A-Exceptional Quality product that the City uses in numerous projects — constructed wetlands, construction site erosion and sediment control, levee construction, road construction revegetation, and land reclamation — and is marketed to the local community. For the land-application program, biosolids and lime-waste are applied on a 3-year rotation to a total of 200 ac (81 ha) of city-owned land and approximately 1300 ac (530 ha) of privately owned land. Approximately 400 ac (160 ha) of corn, wheat, or soybeans are fertilized annually. Each year there is a waiting list of local farmers for the popular voluntary program. Communities near St. Peters have recently experienced increased growth and development, prompting an increase in odor complaints and a decrease in nearby agricultural land. St. Peters is actively addressing these changes by constructing solids dewatering facilities (projected completion in 2009) to transition from a liquid land-application program to a biosolids-cake- composting program, which is expected to resolve odor issues, minimize the need for large tracts of agricultural land, and offset operating costs through increasing sales of marketable compost products. The city is also installing a new aerated static pile covered composting facility that will replace the open windrow method with a more efficient composting facility that manages odors by cycling all the process air through biofilters. St. Peters continues to explore methods of reducing land-filled waste and finding new markets for compost products. For example, the city is working on a pilot project to compost vegetable waste and floral trimmings from grocery stores. St. Peters has also constructed a rain garden using compost and sand media to demonstrate a sustainable supply of material used in a low impact development technique. Small Operating Projects (less than 5 dry ton/d) 1st Place Award Tahlequah Public Works Authority Compost Operations Tahlequah, Okla., EPA Region 6 Tahlequah Public Works Authority Compost Operations is recognized for its success in developing a highly effective, small, Class A-Exceptional Quality compost facility. With funding support from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, the City of Tahlequah established a composting facility for managing its biosolids in 2006. The city is now effectively operating the facility, and the compost is used locally instead of transporting dewatered solids cake 35 mi (56 km) to a landfill. The project has resulted in a significant reduction in annual fuel and labor costs. ------- The Composting Operation manages all of the biosolids generated by the Tahlequah Wastewater Facility. The facility uses a medium-sized sequencing batch reactor and serves a population of about 14,500. The composting operation produces approximately 411 dry ton (373 dry Mg) of Class A-Exceptional Quality composted biosolids per year. Most of the compost produced is used internally as fill for construction projects and as a soil amendment. The Tahlequah Public Works Authority also sells the compost outside the watershed. The composting operation is expected to return approximately $35,000 per year to the Tahlequah budget. Composting eliminated the need to landfill, a practice that costs about $60,000 annually. Also, the composting equipment has a smaller footprint than typical composting operations, is less expensive to maintain, and employees do not need to be trained to use as many different types of equipment, all of which provide additional cost savings. Wood chips used as the bulking agent for composting are obtained from the preventive maintenance performed on trees in the area — for power line clearance, for example. This practice not only provides the composting operation with wood chips at no cost, but provides a use for a by-product that would otherwise require costly trucking and disposal. The composting operation has eliminated the need to haul solids long distances for disposal and has minimized the risk of spills by containing the operation on-site. Employees are thoroughly trained to have in depth knowledge of the operation and the science of composting. The Tahlequah Public Works Authority is making efforts to ensure public acceptance of the operation, including use of the compost in an award-winning flower and plant bed at the new Public Works Field Operating Facility. The Composting Operation facility has also held an open house to demonstrate its operation and has been commended by the Solid Waste Institute of Northeast Oklahoma (Tahlequah) and the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission (Tahlequah). Public Acceptance 1st Place Award Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Chicago; EPA Region 5 The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) is recognized for its success in improving public acceptance, reducing contract costs and decreasing odor complaints associated with its biosolids management effort through a strong collaborative program with many academic institutions and environmental and agricultural agencies. In February 1967 the MWRDGC Board of Commissioners adopted a policy to manage wastewater solids "on land for utilization and reclamation." This set in motion a 40-year endeavor by MWRDGC to plan and operate an effective beneficial use program to provide reliable and cost-effective outlets for biosolids management. The program also provides increased public acceptance and environmental benefits. ------- MWRDGC collaborated extensively with researchers from the Uni versity of Illinois, New Mexico State University, Environment Canada, University of California — Riverside, University of Minnesota, Michigan State Uni versity, Ohio State University, University of Florida, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The diverse team generated critical information on land application of biosolids, which EPA then used to support the Part 503 regulation risk assessment. MWRDGC also uses a unique PFRP (process to further reduce pathogens) process train, certified by EPA, to produce an exceptional quality (EQ) biosolids product that is used as final landfill cover and applied to sites throughout Chicagoland as a soil amendment and fertilizer substitute for topdressing turf. It can also be used to fertilize agricultural row crops. MWRDGC has also continued to make improvements in its industrial pretreatment ordinance and ensure that its biosolids land application programs remain state-of-the-art and viable. MWRDGC recognized that to establish a sustainable biosolids program, the general public and other potential users must be educated. To accomplish this, a unique multimedia public information and education program was launched to convey technical information through brochures, oral presentations, trade show expositions, field day demonstrations, and radio advertising. The program has been very successful in increasing public acceptance of biosolids and demand for its use, leading to an expansion of local urban and farmland markets. 'MWRDGC has also adopted the National Biosolids Partnership (NBP) Code of Good Practice and developed an environmental management system. MWRDGC expects to have an external audit completed and to receive NBP certification in the near future. Many improvements have been made to the operation itself to increase cost-effectiveness and public acceptance. An odor management surveillance system has been installed to detect adverse odors, and masking agents are sprayed regularly where foul odors could form. Proper management of biosolids also helps minimize the odors associated with the process. Paved lagoons and drying cells ensure that no debris is present in the product, and air drying reduces energy costs associated with processing. MWRDGC has also encouraged public input and feedback in all aspects of operational management. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is recognized for its success in improving public acceptance, reducing contract costs, and decreasing odor complaints associated with biosolids management effort through a strong collaborative program with many academic institutions and environmental and agricultural agencies. ------- PRETREATMENT The National Pretreatment Program Awards recognize the importance of effective pretreatment programs in controlling industrial discharges to publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). The pretreatment program is intended to prevent incompatible wastes, which could pass through or interfere with the operations, from being discharged to POTWs and, to improve opportunities for reuse and recycling of effluent and solids. The program includes municipal and industrial awards in three categories based on the number of significant industrial users (SIUs): 0-5 SIUs, 6-20 SIUs, and greater than 21 SIUs. The evaluation criteria focuses on effective community outreach programs that target industrial and commercial users and the public, permit compliance and enforcement, inspection and sampling activities, data management, and environmental achievements. 0-5 SIUs 1st Place Award St. Johns County Utilities Pretreatment Program St. Augustine, Fla.; EPA Region 4 Number of SIUs: 2 Number of categorical industrial users (CIUs): 2 POTW design capacity: 9.25 mgd (35,000 m3/d) 2007 Average flow: 6.75 mgd (25,600 m3/d) 2007 Percent industrial flow received: 0.6 % The St. Johns County Utilities Pretreatment Program is recognized for its proactive pollution prevention program and community outreach efforts. The county's program is effective at maintaining direct control of all its nondomestic dischargers. The program has two SIUs and also permits more than 200 other nondomestic dischargers, including restaurants, hotels, auto facilities, portable toilet waste haulers, and reverse osmosis concentrate dischargers. All restaurants and auto facilities in the program are permitted and required to install and maintain equipment to decrease the discharge of conventional pollutants. The pretreatment program conducts random quarterly sampling of pollutants of concern on waste haulers and nondomestic dischargers. Staff members implement this monitoring schedule and conduct regular wastewater influent and effluent samples at three of the county's seven wastewater treatment plants to ensure that priority pollutants, including oil and grease, do not pose a threat to plant operations. The pretreatment program's fats, oil and grease (FOG) program began in 2005 and requires nondomestic dischargers to install and maintain pretreatment equipment (grease interceptors). Since the inception of the FOG program and in combination with the pretreatment program's enforcement response plan, the county has not had any FOG-related sanitary sewer overflows reported in its system. The pretreatment program also runs an interactive FOG recycling program at local elementary schools that is designed to educate children on the effects of FOG in the sewer system. The program encourages children to talk with their families about the community ------- and environmental benefits of recycling FOG. The pretreatment program's Web site, at www.sicfl.us/BCC/Utilitv Department/Pretreatment.aspx. contains information, forms and guides for nondomestic dischargers and FOG-discharging facilities, as well as a public information and outreach section including pages providing information geared for children. Furthermore, the pretreatment program works closely with the county's Biodiesel Recycling Plant and Solid Waste Department on a FOG recycling project. The project's purpose is to collect used household grease and convert it into biodiesel fuel. There are three grease recycling drop points in the county. 6-20 SIUs 1st Place Award Sam Hobbs Regional Wastewater Facility Casper, Wyo.; EPA Region 8 Number of SIUs: 12 Number of categorical industrial users (CIUs): 2 POTW design capacity: 12.8 mgd (48,500 m3/d) 2007 Average flow: 6.7 mgd (25,000 m3/d) 2007 Percent industrial flow received: 2% The Sam Hobbs Regional Wastewater Facility in Casper, Wyo., is recognized for the exemplary implementation of its pretreatment program. The industrial pretreatment program (IPP) represents an enforcement success story and illustrates a municipality's ability to embrace and effectuate change. Before implementing its pretreatment program, priority pollutant contamination in the North Platte River and regular grease-related sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) in town caused EPA Region 8 to issue enforcement actions and fines that required the facility to meet its Clean Water Act requirements. The IPP has 12 SIUs and permits more than 250 other nondomestic dischargers, including car washes and auto repair shops, through its nonhazardous industrial waste program. The IPP is well rounded, but, most notably, the pretreatment program has developed robust, mass-based local limits; an outstanding grease control program; and a nonhazardous industrial waste program. The IPP implements local limits for its SIUs on a mass basis, rather than on the more common uniform concentration approach. The pretreatment program reviews its local limits quarterly to ensure validity of the current limits. In addition to the mass-based local limits, the pretreatment program further fine tunes its local limits to accommodate industry sectors. For example, a hospital's wastewater may have a higher silver pollutant loading, versus a laundry's wastewater, which may have a higher zinc loading. As a result, the hospital would be allocated a higher silver limit and a lower zinc limit, while the laundry would be allocated a lower silver limit and a higher zinc limit. The pretreatment program's grease control program requires all noncompliant food service facilities to install properly sized grease/oil interceptors. In 1996, Casper had more than 125 food service establishments, and more than 25% of these facilities were causing ongoing sewer ------- blockages. As of 1999 and implementation of the grease control program, Casper has not experienced any grease blockages or interference to its sewers caused by food service establishments. To implement its grease control program, the pretreatment program has revised its sewer use ordinance to include requirements related to installation, operations and maintenance of grease/oil interceptors; has developed a tracking system for pumping manifests; and has provided training to its food service establishments. In addition, the pretreatment program accepts hauled grease wastes, which are pumped to anaerobic digesters and recovered as methane gas for heating and generating electricity. The pretreatment program also developed a nonhazardous industrial waste program after the landfill began prohibiting the acceptance of wastewater from car washes and other auto facilities. The pretreatment program created a new disposal facility for this type of waste and has served more than 250 nondomestic users. Since the inception of this program, no petroleum or noncompatible wastes have been detected at the wastewater facility's headworks. In addition, pollution-related complaints from citizens regarding the watersheds (rivers, streams and storm drains) have decreased. 6-20 SIUs 2nd Place Award South Valley Water Reclamation Facility Pretreatment Program West Jordan, Utah; EPA Region 8 Number of SIUs: 15 Number of categorical industrial users (CIUs): 4 POTW design capacity: 38 mgd (140,000 m3/d) 2007 Average flow: 33.5 mgd (127,000 m3/d) 2007 Percent industrial flow received: 6% The South Valley Water Reclamation Facility pretreatment program (SVWRF) in West Jordan, Utah, is recognized for effective implementation of its industrial pretreatment program over a large service area. EPA commends SVWRF for taking a proactive approach in working with nondomestic dischargers to prevent pretreatment issues before problems arise. SVWRF has nine cities in its service area, each of which is required to adopt sewer use ordinances that are at least as stringent as the SVWRF's sewer use ordinance. SVWRF detects new dischargers and changes at existing nondomestic dischargers in its service area by ensuring that SVWRF approves new business licenses and reviews building plans for remodels and new construction. The pretreatment program oversees 15 SIUs and 670 nonsignificant industrial and commercial nondomestic dischargers, all of which are inspected and sampled at least once each year. SVWRF has an extensive monitoring program. It continuously monitors flow and samples quarterly for conventional and priority pollutants in the plant's influent and effluent streams, as well as in the eight major tributary trunklines. The data is tracked to monitor pollutant loading trends and to evaluate any changes in its service area. ------- SVWRF prioritizes active communication and education efforts with nondomestic users to prevent pretreatment problems. SVWRF staff holds training sessions for large users — school districts and correctional facilities that have multiple supervisors over separate processes — to educate dischargers about permit requirements and waste minimization practices. Staff members also encourage nondomestic dischargers to use pollution prevention practices, and provide information, advice on treatment options, and contacts to explore pollution prevention and other practices that save resources and reduce introduction of pollutants into environment. The SVWRF pretreatment program implements a user charge program for surcharging nondomestic dischargers for conventional pollutants that gives them an incentive for reducing these pollutants in the waste stream. The user charge program requires all nondomestic dischargers with the ability to discharge conventional pollutants above the allowable limits (300 mg/L of biochemical oxygen demand, 300 mg/L of total suspended solids and 200 mg/L of polar oil and grease) or the ability to discharge pollutants of concern exceeding SVWRF"s local limits to install a sampling manhole. In addition, this program requires any commercial or industrial business to install oil/sand separators if it has shop or warehouse floor drains. Since the inception of the user charge program, SVWRF has noticed a 50% reduction in oil and grease inflow to the wastewater treatment plant as well as a significant reduction in total influent. The Southside Wastewater Treatment Plant (Vidalia, Ga.) is recognized for its excellent performance standards, effective process control, high level of employee training, and proactive maintenance program. The medium-sized plant — serving about 5400 people — applies treated effluent to 505 ac (204 ha) of pine trees and implements a comprehensive process control strategy to ensure that negative environmental effects are avoided. ------- More than 21 SIUs 1st Place Award Union Sanitary District Union City, Calif.; EPA Region 9 Number of SIUs: 50 Number of categorical industrial users (CIUs): 42 POTW design capacity: 33.0 mgd (125,000 m3/d) 2007 Average flow: 26.63 mgd (100,800 m3/d) 2007 Percent industrial flow received: 15 % Union Sanitation District (USD) provides wastewater collection, treatment and disposal services for the cities of Fremont, Newark, and Union City, Calif. EPA recognizes USD's pretreatment program for having extensive outreach and pollution prevention programs; a successful geographic information system (GIS); and active, positive, incentive programs. USD's has used its extensive outreach and pollution prevention activities to control pollutants of concern such as copper; mercury; and fats, oil, and grease (FOG). For example, USD implemented a copper plumbing outreach program after realizing that pipe corrosion contributed 60% of the copper loading at the headworks. In conjunction with working closely with the water supplier to reduce the water's corrosivity, USD developed outreach materials and presented workshops for local mechanical designers and plumbing contractors. Since the inception of this program, the headworks copper concentration has decreased from more than 160 |ig/L to a little more than 80 |ig/L. USD also implements a far-reaching pollution prevention program that encompasses all industrial, commercial, residential dischargers, including USD itself. An example of a recent successful pollution prevention program involves a specialty gases bottler. After a series of toxic organic exceedences, a site study was conducted to determine the cause. Using the findings of the site study, the facility was able to segregate and capture the waste product causing the violations and was able to sell the collected waste as a product. The facility's pollution prevention program now eliminates several thousand pounds of waste per year that would otherwise be discharged to USD. USD implements a highly successful GIS as an extension of its nondomestic user database. The GIS maps, generated by USD, include database information geographically coded over a street layer and major trunk line layer, making it easier to determine the best sampling locations, prioritize inspections, and estimate sewer users' contributions to headworks loading. USD staff uses these GIS maps to determine sampling locations for tracking changes in mercury discharges as part of its amalgam separator program. The USD pretreatment program also uses positive incentives to encourage its nondomestic dischargers to move beyond compliance. These incentives include the USD Certificate of Merit program, Alameda County Green Business program, and the California Water Environment Association Industry of the Year program. ------- More than 21 SIUs 2nd Place Award Laguna Subregional Reclamation Facility Santa Rosa, Calif.; EPA Region 9 Number of SIUs: 29 Number of categorical industrial users (CIUs): 8 POTW design capacity: 19.2 mgd (72,672 m3/d) 2007 Average flow: 16.2 mgd (61,317 m3/d) 2007 Percent industrial flow received: 4 % The Laguna Subregional Reclamation Facility, in Santa Rosa, Calif., is being recognized for the pretreatment program's integration into other municipal agencies and regulatory compliance agencies as well as its "carrot and hammer" approach to implementing its pretreatment program. In addition to its 29 significant industrial users, the city's Environmental Compliance Section implements a pretreatment program that permits 1200 commercial business with best management practice requirements; regulates more than 500 food service establishments to ensure properly sized grease-removal devices; and works with several hundred X-ray facilities, printers, and photo developers to reduce silver loading to the wastewater treatment plant's headworks by 78%. Santa Rosa participates in the Sonoma Environmental Quality Assurance Committee (SEQAC). The SEQAC is made up of other regional regulators such as the Sonoma County Water Agency, Sonoma County Emergency Services, Sonoma County Waste Management, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the Department of Fish and Game, the Department of Toxic Substances and Control, Santa Rosa Environmental Crimes Officer, Santa Rosa Fire Inspectors, and Santa Rosa Storm Water. By participating in SEQAC, the city is able to exchange information with multiple agencies quickly to help maintain compliance in the commercial sector. To further SEQAC's objective of agencies partnered in compliance, the city created the Sonoma Green Business program. It rewards green businesses with public recognition in free advertising and utility bill reductions. The Green Business program initially concentrated on auto shops, print shops, and wineries to prevent the release or discharge of hazardous or toxic waste into the sanitary sewer and storm drain systems. In 1999 the program received national recognition in the form of EPA's Sustainable Communities award. The Green Business program — in conjunction with the typical pretreatment program aspects of monitoring, inspections, and surcharges — has helped Santa Rosa reduce the concentration of tetrachloroethylene at the wastewater treatment plant headworks from 50 |ig/L to less than the reporting limit of 0.5 |ig/L. Santa Rosa also has had several successful enforcement proceedings dealing with illegal disposal of hazardous waste, discharges to stormwater systems and illegal grease hauling practices. The city's aggressive enforcement activities are used when education and outreach do not work. ------- MUNICIPAL STORMWATER PROGRAM The National Storm Water Management Awards Program was established in 1991 to recognize municipalities and industries that have outstanding stormwater control projects or programs. The evaluation criteria consider innovation, cost-effectiveness, and benefits to the environment. Municipal 1st Place Award Rogue Valley Sewer Services Central Point, Ore.; EPA Region 10 Rogue Valley Sewer Services (RVS) has earned a first place award for its innovative regional management approach in implementing the Phase II Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program for Central Point, Phoenix, and Talent, Ore., as well as portions of Jackson County and becoming an Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Agent responsible for implementing the construction permit program. This new and innovative regional management approach decreased the amount of pollutants entering the Bear Creek and Rogue River watersheds; achieved a consistent approach for stormwater management for all entities involved; and significantly reduced the total overall cost to implement the program. In addition, RVS has made numerous management improvements to its program, including creating the Rogue Valley Stormwater Design Manual, the Capital Improvement Program (CIP); the 1200C construction stormwater program; erosion and sediment control inspection certification classes; and the fats, oils and grease (FOG) reduction program. RVS is commended for developing and implementing the Rogue Valley Stormwater Design Manual. The manual focuses on establishing annual goals and proper design and installation of stormwater quality control measures to reduce pollutants to the stormwater system for new development projects. Once installation of the control measure is complete and accepted, RVS assumes responsibility for its operation and maintenance. RVS is operating and maintaining 12 control measures that have been designed and installed in accordance with the manual. RVS also established a CIP to retrofit stormwater control measures in existing commercial and residential areas over a 5-year period. This program has resulted in the completion of three retrofits projects addressing stormwater runoff from more than 380 ac (154 ha). Furthermore, the CIP includes a 5-year plan to install two retrofits annually. Additionally, in 2006, RVS became a DEQ Agent responsible for implementing and managing the program for Oregon's 1200C construction permit. RVS is responsible for all construction oversight, including enforcement and inspections, within its Phase II area. Therefore, developers and contractors are working with only one organization for management of construction stormwater runoff. This approach allowed RVS to be proactive in educating developers and contractors in pollution prevention and implementing inspection and enforcement procedures for all construction sites. EPA also applauds RVS for its proactive approach to ensure compliance on construction sites and protecting construction site stormwater runoff quality. The 1200C program requires every ------- construction project to provide a certified designated erosion and sediment control (ESC) inspector to ensure compliance before being issued a permit. Because there was no training available for ESC inspectors, RVS implemented an inspection training class to meet the requirements of the 1200C permit. The class provides an overview of the responsibilities of ESC inspectors, discusses permit requirements and procedures for installation and maintenance of stormwater control measures, photos of compliance and noncompliance issues, and certification as an ESC Inspector. Since its inception, RVS has held 11 training seminars and certified more than 200 inspectors. Other notable achievements include development of a FOG program (education, site visits, and follow-up inspections) to ensure that commercial facilities handle FOG properly to prevent sanitary sewers from overflowing into storm drains. In addition, by using low impact development practices, the Stormwater Solutions Team helps prevent pollutants from entering the stormwater management system at the regional level. The above achievements to the management program have exceeded the mandated state and federal programs to protect stormwater, and the Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies (Portland) recognized RVS as an 2007 Outstanding Member Agency. Municipal 2nd Place Award Keep it Clean Partnership City of Boulder, Town of Erie, City of Longmont, City of Louisville, Town of Superior, and Boulder County, Colo.; EPA Region 8 The Keep it Clean Partnership (KICP) is recognized for its regional stormwater management efforts of the Phase II Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program to protect water quality and provide cost-efficient and effective programs for its constituents. The partnership management program serves the communities of Boulder, Longmont, Louisville, Erie, and Superior, Colo., as well as Boulder County. In addition, KICP is one of the only programs in EPA Region 8 to take a regional approach to managing stormwater, while moving toward watershed-based management. KICP has implemented strategies that enabled it to maintain a unified public message promoting stormwater pollution prevention and protection of water quality, while raising public awareness and stewardship. For example, the message, Keep it clean, 'cause we 're all downstream, is placed on all printed materials, including 73 tributary signs posted throughout the region. Furthermore, in 2003 KICP partners developed model ordinances for construction and illicit discharges for use in the communities and in 2007 the stormwater education program reached more than 7000 students and individuals. Similarly, coordinating implementation across the region allows partners to share experience and expertise in developing and implementing various programs and share the costs of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting and compliance. ------- EPA also applauds KICP for its implementation of the 5-year Keep it Clean Plan, which contains common elements such as ordinance language that can be applied across the region; programs that individual partners are responsible for implementing; and shared programs that all KICP partners implement. In addition, KICP's shared programs (The Boulder Water Quality Education Program and Boulder County's Partners for a Clean Environment Program) provide community outreach materials, conduct school programs, arrange site visits, and address commercial and municipal operations. Other notable program accomplishments for KICP include the following: • Conducting more than 100 stormwater pollution prevention evaluations for restaurants and vehicle service and municipal facilities. • Providing extensive municipal employee training and outreach programs. • Establishing erosion control training for construction operators. • Conducting illicit discharge and low impact development training. • Developing municipal pollution prevention videos and public service educational videos (i.e., The Adventures ofH20 Jo). • Promoting the Keep it Clean media campaign, which provided targeted water quality information to the public. Notably, the campaign has been featured in EPA's Phase II Stormwater Web site case studies and has been adopted by the State of Colorado. Finally, KICP's proactive approach to forming a partnership provides an example and model for other municipalities to follow in implementing their Phase IIMS4 Programs. Industrial 1st Place Award County of Sacramento Environmental Management Department (EMD) Commercial/Industrial Stormwater Compliance Program Sacramento, Calif.; EPA Region 9 The Sacramento County Environmental Management Department (EMD) Commercial/Industrial Stormwater Compliance Program earns a first place award for its contribution and commitment toward achieving industrial National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit compliance, improving stormwater runoff quality and improving the public's awareness of stormwater pollution prevention. In 2003 the Sacramento Stormwater Quality Partnership (SSQP), a collaboration of public agencies that jointly and individually implements stormwater program activities, selected EMD to develop and implement the commercial/industrial stormwater compliance program on its behalf. The SSQP includes the county and the cities of Sacramento, Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Elk Grove and Gait, Calif. As a result of this partnership, EMD created a regional program that combined stormwater inspections with other regulatory inspections to increase efficiency, minimize costs and effects on the regulated business community, and provide consistency and equity in inspections, enforcement, and public education. ------- EMD also is being recognized for its many methods of communicating with its users and the public. Some notable methods of communication include developing and maintaining an educational Web site for the regulated community, creating 10 compliance assistance bulletins for targeted commercial/industrial users, developing multilingual outreach brochures and creating best management practice gui dance documents for pressure washers and surface cleaners. EMD staff also increased awareness of water quality by conducting training workshops in association with other agencies and provided personalized, site-specific compliance guidance to businesses and trade associations. The inspection component of the program has maximized efficiency by using trained, multilingual inspectors. The program is funded through a multiyear fee ordinance that business owners pay for inspection services they receive. The fee-based approach provides protection from state and local budget cuts and does not put a burden on stormwater utility funds. The program regulates nearly 5000 businesses in nine industrial categories. Furthermore, EPA applauds EMD for its proactive approach to ensure industrial compliance through triennial inspections and enforcement. It has achieved the following results: • inspected approximately 5000 businesses, • re-inspected approximately 2000 businesses, • issued more than 3200 notices of viol ati on, • corrected more than 5000 violations, and • attracted more than 600 business operators to its compliance workshops. In addition to the EMD program, the SSQP developed a county wide T arget Pollutant Reduction Strategy that identifies and prioritizes those poll utants that are most prevalent and problematic in the Sacramento region, potential sources of those pollutants, and reduction strategies. The strategy helps reduce costs by focusing efforts on the pollutants of most concern (i.e., diazinon, chlorpyrifos, total mercury, total aluminum, Escherichia coli, fecal cohform, dissolved copper, dissolved zinc, chrysene, and total dissolved solids). As part of these efforts, EPA commends EMD for its approach in conducting inspections at facilities that are potential sources of these pollutants. For example, EMD routinely inspects automotive repair facilities, auto dismantlers, and metal recyclers for pollutants of concern, such as copper, lead, and mercury. Finally, for these accomplishments, the California State and Regional Water Quality Board recognized the EMD program as a model of success and awarded it the 2007 California Stormwater Quality Association Outstanding Source Control/Programmatic BMP Implementation Award. The Sacramento County (Calif.) Commercial/Industrial Stormwater Compliance Program earns a first place award for its contribution and commitment toward achieving industrial NPDES permit compliance, improving stormwater runoff quality, and improving the public's awareness of stormwater pollution prevention. The program combined stormwater inspections with other regulatory inspections to increase efficiency, minimize costs and effects on the regulated business community, and provide consistency and equity in inspections, enforcement, and public education. ------- COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW MANAGEMENT The Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Awards were established in 1991 to recognize communities that demonstrate a commitment to protect and improve the quality of the national waters through their efforts to control CSOs. The evaluation criteria consider a community's efforts to implement nine minimum control measures, its development of a long-term CSO control plan, characteristics of its combined sewer system, and the effects of its CSOs on receiving water bodies. The criteria also focus on the environmental benefits of controlling CSOs, the watershed considerations in developing CSO control programs, and any innovative aspects of CSO control plans. This year's award recognizes a community that made exceptional efforts to eliminate CSOs by planning and submitting improvements prior to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit requirements. This community also remained proactive during construction, electing to compress the original schedule to avoid rising construction costs, and completing work four years early. Combined Sewer Overflow 1st Place A ward Village of Metamora Wastewater Collection System Separation Metamora, Ohio; EPA Region 5 Service population (2000): 563 CSOs eliminated: 4 The Village of Metamora is recognized for its positive, proactive attitude toward improving the design of its wastewater and stormwater collection system. The village elected to separate the existing combined sewer system (CSS) to eliminate combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and improve the quality of its receiving water, Ten Mile Creek. Metamora submitted a General Plan for Separation of the CSS to Ohio Environmental Protection Agency before receiving any National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements to submit a CSO long-term control plan. This original general plan was divided into five phases and was intended to be completed at 3- year intervals with an end date of December 31, 2011. The plan included completely separating The Metamora (Ohio) Wastewater Collection System Separation Project receives the first place award for combined sewer overflow (CSO) management for its positive and proactive plan to eliminate its combined sewer system 4 years ahead of schedule. The plan included completely separating the sanitary and stormwater systems, eliminating all CSOs, removing all septic tanks, and completely separating systems on each consumer's property. ------- the sanitary and stormwater systems, eliminating all CSOs, removing all septic tanks, and completely separating systems on each consumer's property. In 2001, to address concerns about rising construction costs, Metamora's council and the board of public affairs approved the design and implementation of a 1-year plan for separation. This alteration in schedule resulted in complete separation and elimination of all CSOs 4 years in advance of the originally projected date. The project was funded through grants and low-interest loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Ohio State Capital Improvement Program (Issue 2 grants). To repay the loans, the Metamora council agreed to increase sewer rates, which was determined to be less burdensome than increased property taxes for the population of the small village where many residents are elderly and on fixed incomes. Separating the sewer systems in Metamora on a shortened schedule could not have succeeded without excellent communication and coordination among the city, state, EPA, USDA, and the engineering and consulting firms. In addition, the project required the support and cooperation of all residents. Public input was sought at every step of planning, and Metamora residents played an integral part in completing the project early. Residents were responsible for ensuring the complete separation of all sanitary and storm waters on their own properties — smoke testing was conducted to identify the required separations. Metamora encouraged widespread cooperation by offering a sewer charge rebate incentive to all those completing the required work within the allotted time. The village also eliminated all septic tanks in the service area, replacing them with service lines to the sanitary sewer mains and cleanouts on the residents' side of the piping. Electing to separate the combined sewer system led to visible and olfactory improvement in Ten Mile Creek's water quality. These changes are expected to increase local property values. Metamora now reports zero sanitary sewer overflows, CSOs or bypasses, and no effluent violations were reported in 2007. ------- |