Environment DEC
From the December 2005 issue
Wastewater Treatment Plant Wins State and Federal Recognition
The Village of Lima Wastewater Treatment Plant in Livingston County has been selected as the second place winner in the "Small/Advanced" treatment category for the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2005 National Clean Water Act Recognition Awards. The Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 501(e) and 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 105 establish general requirements for the administration of the EPA's CWA Recognition Awards. Highlights from the Village of Lima award application package included outstanding safety and sludge management programs.
Wastewater treatment facilities
are a major component in
ensuring clean water for
our communities
The Operation and Maintenance (O&M) awards category encourages public support for effective operations and maintenance activities at publicly-owned wastewater treatment facilities. Recognition is made for outstanding innovation of processes and practices of wastewater treatment facilities that continue to meet water quality permit requirements.
Earlier State Award
The Village of Lima facility was one of NYSDEC's 2005 Andrew M. Weist Operation and Maintenance Excellence award winners in the "Small/Advanced" category. It was then nominated by NYSDEC and EPA Region 2 to compete for the national award. The national award was presented on October 31 at the Water Environment Federation's Technical Exposition and Conference at the Washington Convention Center in the nation's capital. Chief Operator Dan Dumar and Village of Lima Mayor, Honorable Carl Luft, attended the award ceremony and were honored to accept the award, expressing the community's pride in protecting the waters of New York State.
Municipal wastewater treatment facilities are the foundation of New York's water quality infrastructure and this award recognizes facilities that have demonstrated particular excellence in achieving water quality protection goals. The award also gives recognition to the entire staffs of the facilities for protecting public health, the environment, and the public's investment in an effective wastewater treatment system.
SPDES Compliance Excellence
The Village of Lima Wastewater Treatment Plant has an excellent State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) compliance record. In Chief Operator Dan Dumar's award application he wrote; "At times it can be difficult to motivate yourself and others to perform some of the duties that need to be done. Washing down tanks, launders, weirs, trickling filter arms and influent channels with a high-pressure water hose in the dead of winter can be demoralizing. Working on pumps until your hands are so cold that you can't feel them anymore or having raw sludge splashed on you isn't most people's idea of having a good day at work. In most instances, the only people that know what you have accomplished on a given day are yourself and your coworkers. Trying to keep the atmosphere in the workplace light and interesting throughout the course of the day, staying focused on your goals and safely finishing what has to be done is the best management practice of all."
