Pa. Pollution Control Center to Receive National, State Safety Awards

Operated and maintained by Severn Trent Services, the Downingtown Regional Water Pollution Control Center (DRWPCC) has been selected to receive the George W. Burke, Jr. Facility Safety Award presented by the Water Environment Federation (WEF).

This award recognizes active, effective safety programs in municipal and industrial wastewater facilities. Nomination criteria require facilities to demonstrate an effective safety program and present a facility safety record for the preceding calendar year.

The DRWPCC also was selected to receive the 2003 Pennsylvania Water Environment Association (PWEA) Class II Facility Safety Award. The PWEA Safety Committee recognizes Class II facilities (more than nine employees) that have the highest ranking based on information obtained from the Wastewater Collection System Safety Award application process.

Facilities must have won the Safety Award in an individual Section the previous year before being reviewed by the PWEA.

DRWPCC was awarded the Eastern Pennsylvania Water Pollution Control Operators Association Class II Facility Safety Award in 2002.

Both awards will be presented at the 2004 PennTec Awards Banquet on June 29 in State College, Pa. This banquet is part of the PWEA's annual technical conference.

Commenting on the awards, David Fink, project manager for Severn Trent Services, said, "In earning these awards, DRWPCC demonstrated the value of established ongoing programs of environmental safety."

Jeffrey Doutrich, Severn Trent Services' regional manager, remarked, "The Downingtown facility validates our belief that only a serious, ongoing commitment to workplace safety will achieve the desired results. Downingtown is the benchmark for all our projects to emulate."

The Downingtown Regional Water Pollution Control Center is a 7.5 million gallons per day tertiary wastewater system that serves 50,000 residents in the Borough of Downingtown and neighboring townships. Severn Trent has operated and maintained the facility since 1999.

Severn Trent Services supplies water and wastewater treatment solutions. The company's broad range of products and services is concentrated around disinfection and filtration technologies, pipeline analysis, rehabilitation and repair services, contract operating services, and state-of-the-art residential metering products.

Source: Severn Trent Services