Wastewater treatment plants get top marks again

The eight regional wastewater treatment plants operated by Metropolitan Council Environmental Services treated a total of approximately 255 million gallons of wastewater each day in 2006. And in the process, they achieved 99.7 percent compliance with their clean water discharge permits — a number that represents just four permit exceedances.

Dave Dahl, a plant operator at the Blue Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant in Shakopee, collects a sample of the solids removed from wastewater. At this plant, the solids are processed into fertilizer pellets for agricultural use.

Based on these results, six of the plants earned “Certificates of Commendation” from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for outstanding operation, maintenance and management. The Blue Lake, Eagles Point, Hastings, Rosemount, St. Croix Valley and Seneca Plants received their honors at the MPCA’s Annual Wastewater Operations Conference in Brooklyn Park.

“These treatment plants and their operators provided critical environmental services with precision and diligence,” said Wendy Turri, manager of the MPCA’s Wastewater Permitting and Compliance Program, as she presented the awards. “Their outstanding performance makes me believe that Minnesota will be left a legacy of safe, clean water.”

“The treatment plant operators are valuable partners in the effort to keep Minnesota’s lakes and rivers clean,” added MPCA Commissioner Brad Moore. “We’re honored to give this award for the exceptional service they gave their communities — and all Minnesotans — in 2006.”

The awards are based on full compliance with clean water discharge permits. They also require that facilities are overseen by properly certified operators; all required monthly and annual reports are timely and complete; and facilities have no bypasses, enforcement actions or inspections identifying significant compliance concerns.

“We’re very proud of our treatment plant operators, along with our employees working in the collection system and in maintenance and support areas,” said Environmental Services General Manager Bill Moore. “They keep our plants running smoothly around the clock every day of the year in our efforts to protect public health and the environment. In the majority of our clean water discharge permit measurements, our plants are well within the stringent permit limits. That further helps to decrease pollution in our area waterways.”