For Release: Thursday, August 31, 2006
DEC Honors Outstanding Wastewater Treatment Plants
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan has announced the winners of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Andrew M. Weist Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Excellence Awards for municipal wastewater treatment plants.
The NYSDEC Andrew M. Weist O&M Excellence Awards honor wastewater treatment facilities that implement innovative and outstanding operations, maintenance and management programs that result in high levels of continued performance and efficiency.
"DEC strives to increase programs and efforts that are vital to protecting New York's water quality,"Commissioner Sheehan said. "The Andrew M. Weist Award recognizes both the City of Rome Water Pollution Control Facility and the Town of Riverhead Sewer District's Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility and their staffs for their commitment and dedication in achieving our overall goal of preventing water pollution and preserving one of our most essential natural resources. These facilities serve as prime examples of the benefits these partnerships with our state municipalities make in protecting our natural environment."
The award memorializes Andrew M. Weist for his many positive contributions, which enhanced wastewater treatment plant operations in this state and also at a national level. Mr. Weist's efforts played a significant role in improving the quality of our waters. Mr. Weist was the section chief of the DEC's Facility Operations Assistance Section for 15 years, and worked at DEC for over 32 years before retiring in 1995. He passed away in 1999.
Municipal wastewater treatment facilities are the backbone of New York's water quality protection efforts and these awards recognize municipalities that have gone the extra mile to protect the water quality of this state. These awards also recognize the staffs at wastewater treatment facilities for their fine work and dedication to protecting public health, the environment, and the public's investment.
The award categories are based on size and type of treatment facility. Any publicly owned wastewater treatment plant in New York State is eligible to be considered for the O&M Excellence Awards Program.
The winners are:
- City of Rome Water Pollution Control Facility
Large Advanced - Town of Riverhead Sewer District, Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility
Medium Advanced
Award winners will receive plaques in recognition of their awards. DEC officials will present the awards to the City of Rome at 11:00 am on August 22nd and to the Town of Riverhead at 11:00 am on August 31st. The presentations will be held at the wastewater treatment plants of each community.
Treated wastewater from both of the municipal treatment facilities receiving State awards exceeded regulatory standards during 2005.
Municipal treatment plants submitted award applications to DEC in March, including copies of their regulatory permits and descriptions of their facility operations, staffing, cash flow and physical plant layout.
The winners were selected in categories based upon their size and degree of wastewater treatment they provide. Facilities eligible for one of the small categories process less than one million gallons of wastewater per day; those in the medium category process one million to 10 million gallons per day; and those in the large category process more than 10 million gallons per day.
Under the State awards program, a committee of DEC Water Division staff judges selected winning facilities based upon their outstanding wastewater treatment performance, innovation and management efforts that resulted in high levels of regulatory compliance.
Facilities that provide secondary treatment are permitted to have a 30-day average of 30 milligrams per liter of biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids in their treated wastewater and must remove at least 85 percent of those substances. Advanced wastewater treatment systems provide a significantly higher degree of treatment than secondary systems.
Treatment plant operators seeking applications or further information on NYSDEC's Andrew M. Weist O&M Excellence Awards Program should contact Gregg Gendron, (518) 402-8096, or write him at NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, N.Y. 12233-3506
