The U.S. EPA’s New England Office has announced the winners of its 2022 Regional Wastewater Awards Program. The agency distributed three awards in Rhode Island, four in New Hampshire and one in Connecticut.
"Every time we flush or wash ourselves, our kids, clothes, cars, dishes and dogs, we create wastewater," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David Cash in a press release. "All facilities that capture our wastewater and ensure it is safely treated for reuse and release are to be applauded, and I am proud to acknowledge and thank these entities and individuals for outstanding contributions to help protect public health and water quality for so many years."
Rhode Island
The agency presented a Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Excellence Award to the East Greenwich Wastewater Treatment Facility for exceptional work in operation and maintaining the wastewater treatment plant during the last year. The facility was one of only two facilities across New England to receive the award.
Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator of the Year Awards went to two Rhode Island individuals. Only four individuals total across New England received the award. Edward Davies, Superintendent of the Quonset Development Corporation Wastewater Treatment Facility, won the award for his outstanding work in operating and maintaining the facility. Adam Federau, Project Manager of the Westerly Wastewater Treatment Facility, also won the award for outstanding work.
New Hampshire
The agency presented a Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Excellence Award to the Sunapee Wastewater Treatment Facility for exceptional work in maintaining and operating the plant during the last year. The facility was one of only two facilities across New England to receive the award.
EPA also presented a Regional industrial Pretreatment Program Excellence Award to the City of Manchester’s Industrial Pretreatment Program for its exceptional work in inspecting, permitting, and sampling industrial users that discharge waste into the collection system.
A Regional Wastewater Trainer of the Year Award went to Anthony Druin, Supervisor of the Residual management Section at the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. Druin trained wastewater operators all over New Hampshire on industry-specific topics, such as PFAS and biosolids sampling.
Lastly, EPA’s New England Office presented a Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator of the Year Award to David Lovely, Chief Operator of the Pease Wastewater Treatment Facility, for outstanding work.
Connecticut
The agency recognized Jamie Kreller, Superintendent of the Suffield Water Pollution Control Facility, with a Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator of the Year Award for outstanding work in operating and maintaining the facility.
