USFilter Operating Services Nearly Sweeps Narragansett Water Pollution Control Association Award Program
Excellent Discharge Quality and Exemplary Safety Programs Help the USFilter-Operated Facilities in Cranston, Smithfield and Woonsocket Facilities Win
HOUSTON – USFilter Operating Services (USFilter) and three of its Rhode Island municipal wastewater partners were handed six of 10 awards from the Narragansett, R.I., Water Pollution Control Association (NWPCA) for excellent water quality discharge and overall employee safety and staff development programs.
The winning municipalities -- Woonsocket, Smithfield and Cranston -- partner with USFilter for the operations and maintenance of their wastewater treatment facilities through a public-private partnership agreement.
At the NWPCA awards dinner ceremony, Joseph LaPlante, NWPCA president, commended USFilter for winning these awards and contributing to the preservation of the state's fragile ecosystem.
"In the mid-1990s, many rivers in Rhode Island became the focal point of an urban revitalization effort and stricter environmental standards ensued," said LaPlante. "Discharging into three of these rivers, USFilter was under the spotlight to achieve environmental compliance, but the company has proven itself and continues to be a fantastic water partner, operating and managing these municipal assets safely and responsibly while meeting and often exceeding strict permit requirements."
This is the first time USFilter has received six awards simultaneously by the NWPCA. "These awards represent public validation that we are providing the Rhode Island communities with operating systems that meet all their requirements for reliability, environmental compliance and safety," said Steve Kruger, vice president of operations for USFilter Operating Services' Northeast Business Center.
He added, "This recognition demonstrates that public-private partnerships work, generating not only savings of 10 to 40 percent on average, but most importantly, benefiting the community by raising water quality and securing environmental compliance."
Based on discharge monitoring information from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), the Woonsocket wastewater treatment facility received the "Most Efficient Plant" and "Most Improved Plant" awards for the 5-million-gallons-per-day (MGD) and larger wastewater treatment facilities category, and the Smithfield wastewater treatment facility was awarded "Most Efficient Plant" in the 5-MGD or lesser wastewater treatment category.
The Smithfield and Cranston wastewater facilities each received the prestigious "A. Joseph Mattera Safety Award" for their overall safety program – Smithfield for celebrating 11 years of no-loss-time incidents and Cranston for recently solving a unique sludge holding tank pressure issue that could have been a dangerous hazard.
"This is our eighth time to win the ‘A. Joseph Materra Safety Award', making this accomplishment unmatched by any other facility in the state," said Steven Wold, Smithfield project manager for USFilter Operating Services. "Such an honor underscores our commitment to better protect our employees and the community we serve. I am proud of our Smithfield staff."
Additionally, the NWPCA, for the first time ever, awarded a "Collection System Operator of the Year" Award. William Wilber, Cranston collection system supervisor for USFilter Operating Services, was acknowledged for implementing a number of systems enhancements throughout the sewer, water and storm drain departments, rendering them highly efficient and effective.
Background
Cranston
In 1989, the city of Cranston selected USFilter to operate and maintain the city's 23-MGD wastewater plant and 190-mile collection system as well as manage its industrial pretreatment and biosolids programs. In 1997, the scope of the contract was expanded when the company was selected to implement a 25-year lease transaction for the city's entire wastewater treatment system. This project involves financing a design, build component and the continued operation and maintenance of the facility, extending the term of this public-private partnership to 30 years.
Smithfield
USFilter partners with the city of Smithfield for the operation and management of Smithfield's 3.5-MGD wastewater treatment facility. In addition, USFilter manages 12 pump stations, an 85-mile collection system and industrial pretreatment and sludge disposal program. Recently renewed in 2002 for 10 years, the partnership continues to provide quality wastewater services to approximately 20,000 residents.
Woonsocket
Seeking facility enhancements and upgrades with no up-front costs, the city of Woonsocket entered into a 20-year public-private-partnership with USFilter in 1999 for the operation and maintenance of its 16-MGD wastewater plant. The contract also involves the implementation of a design-build-operate effort focused on a wide range of improvements and touching virtually every aspect of the treatment process.
About USFilter
United States Filter Corporation, a Veolia Environnement company, is North America's leading water company providing comprehensive water and wastewater systems and services to commercial, industrial, municipal and residential customers. Veolia Environnement (Paris Bourse: VIE and NYSE:VE) is the largest environmental services company in the world with more than 295,000 employees, including FCC, in about 100 countries and annual revenues of more than €28.1 billion ($30.5 billion). Visit the company's web sites at www.usfilter.com or www.veoliaenvironnement.com.
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