 | Vol. 7 No. 3 Winter 1999 |
| A Newsletter About New Jersey's Water Quality Programs |
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Two New Jersey municipal wastewater treatment plants received EPA's 1999 Regional Operation and Maintenance Excellence Awards in their respective categories. The awards recognize exceptional operation and maintenance efforts by wastewater treatment plant personnel. The awards were presented at the President's luncheon on May 6, 1999 at the 84th annual NJ Water Environment Association conference in Atlantic City.
The awards are based upon a review of environmental compliance data, budget and financial data, and innovative/outstanding O&M practices. EPA also conducted unannounced site inspections at each plant and interviewed homeowners in the area as well as DEP enforcement officials. During calendar year 1998, there were no reported NJPDES effluent violations at either of these recognized facilities.
The following two treatment plants received awards:
The authority's Woodstream facility, located in Burlington County, won the Regional Award in the Medium - Advanced Treatment category. The plant has a design capacity of 1.7 MGD with an average daily flow of 1.2 MGD. The unit processes employed at this plant include preliminary treatment (Rotomat), surge tanks (equalization), two contact stabilization/settling tanks, filtration (Biofors), UV disinfection, and post aeration. The plant's effluent discharges into Pennsauken Creek.
The Authority is no newcomer to the EPA Awards Program. Their Elmwood Wastewater Treatment Facility received the 1996 Regional O&M Excellence Award in the Medium - Advanced Treatment category and went on to receive the National Second Place O&M Award in the same category. Their Kings Grant Wastewater Treatment Facility received the 1997 Regional O&M Excellence Award in the Small - Non-Discharging (spray irrigation) category.
All of this recognition can be attributed to the efforts, dedication and experience of the authority's employees. Although authority staff utilize techniques which are considered by many at other facilities to be innovative, at the Woodstream, Kings Grant and Elmwood plants they are standard practice.
The Borough's plant, located in Gloucester County, won the Regional Award in the Small - Advanced Treatment category. The plant has a design capacity of 350,000 gpd with an average daily flow of 210,000 gpd. The unit processes employed at this plant include preliminary treatment, primary settling, 2 stage aeration, final settling, chlorination, and dechlorination. The plant's effluent discharges into Racoon Creek.
In 1990, the Borough was assessed a significant amount in fines for NJPDES permit violations. Additional violations in 1991 indicated that problems still existed. Through the efforts of Christian T. Hoffman of the Division of Water Quality, the strong backing of the mayor and council, and the hiring of experienced operators, the plant won the 1993 Regional O&M Excellence award in the Most Improved Plant category. The Borough, its governing body, and, most of all, its employees deserve this year's recognition for the results they have achieved in continuing to improve the performance of their wastewater treatment plant.
After an extensive national competition, EPA selected the Swedesboro wastewater treatment plant to receive the 1999 National Second Place award for an exceptional O&M Program. Borough officials were presented their award at the EPA National Wastewater Management Excellence Awards Ceremony on October 11, 1999 in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the 72th Annual Water Environment Federation Conference.
Congratulations to the Evesham Woodstream and Swedesboro wastewater treatment plants and to each and every member of the plants' staff for achieving outstanding wastewater management.