NBP Bronze-Level Recognition Introduced At Biosolids Management Workshop
Ten Participants Recognized for Commitment to Good Practice
On April 4, ten organizations received special Bronze-Level Recognition from the National Biosolids Partnership (NBP) for their commitment to good practice and plans for third party verification of their biosolids management programs. The ten organizations are part of a class that attended a workshop in Alexandria, Va. last week, to prepare to conduct a first internal audit in anticipation of an independent verification of their biosolids management program.
“Our revamped biosolids training program makes it easier for utilities and other organizations to attain and be recognized for the highest standards in successful biosolids management,” said WEF Deputy Executive Director Eileen O’Neill. “A highly-popular addition to our preparation process is the use of mentors from NPB certified organizations. We are grateful to the mentors who are partnered with an organization in the new class and sharing their experiences to help the partner attain their goals.”
The Bronze-Level Recognition is first step in the NBP’s new streamlined recognition program which includes the progressively more rigorous standards for Silver and Gold Level recognition and is culminated by the Platinum-Level Certification, achieved by 34 organizations to date.
The 2011-2012 NBP Training Class participants who received Bronze-Level Recognition included Synagro-South Kern Compost Manufacturing Facility, CA; City of Moorhead Wastewater Treatment Facility, MN;; Littleton/Englewood Wastewater Treatment Plant, CO; City of Houston Sims Bayou Treatment Facility, TX; Atlantic County Utilities Authority, Pleasantville, NJ; Waco Metropolitan Area Regional Sewerage System, TX; City of Springfield, MO; City of St. Cloud, MN, and Metro Vancouver, Burnaby BC, CN; workshop participants Upper Montgomery Joint Authority, Pennsburg, PA; Harford County Department of Public Works, Bel Air, MD, and Bowling Green Municipal Utilities, KY are on track to be recognized at a later date.
The training held last week included a session featuring talks by several professionals with hands-on auditing and program experience, including Jim Sizemore of the Alexandria Sanitation Authority (Va.) and Dan Collins of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (Ill.) who shared hands-on experience with auditing and resulting benefits.
“MWRD has realized up to 15% savings in the operational and program costs of its biosolids program through participation in the NBP initiative,” said Collins. “It’s exciting to help others establish successful programs that can benefit their communities and the environment.”
Click here (http://www.wef.org/Biosolids/Default.aspx?id=7506) to read more about the National Biosolids Partnership, MWRD’s experience and other success stories.
About the NBP
The National Biosolids Partnership (NBP) advances environmentally sound biosolids management practices. The program is operated by the Water Environment Federation (WEF), in collaboration with the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) and local and regional biosolids management organizations across the U.S. and Canada with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The NBP serves as the information clearinghouse on effective biosolids practices and offers an EMS-based certification program that requires participating organizations to go beyond regulatory requirements.
About WEF
Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of 36,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. WEF members, Member Associations and staff proudly work to achieve our mission to provide bold leadership, champion innovation, connect water professionals, and leverage knowledge to support clean and safe water worldwide.
SOURCE: Water Environment Federation (WEF) - WEFTEC