Treatment plants maintain strong environmental record
All seven of the Metropolitan Council’s wastewater treatment plants have received another round of national awards for perfect compliance with their clean water discharge permits in 2009.
Tom Sardeson, a plant operator at the Hastings Wastewater Treatment Plant, checks the solids level in one of the treatment tanks.
The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) gave its prestigious Platinum Award to three of the Council’s plants for achieving five or more consecutive years of full compliance. The Hastings Plant now has 19 straight years of perfect compliance, followed by the St. Croix Valley Plant in Oak Park Heights at 18 years and the Seneca Plant in Eagan at 9 years. There are only four wastewater treatment plants in the U.S. with longer compliance records than the Hastings Plant.
Gold Awards from NACWA, recognizing full compliance during the year 2009, were awarded to the Council’s Metropolitan Plant in St. Paul, Eagles Point Plant in Cottage Grove, Empire Plant in Empire Township, and Blue Lake Plant in Shakopee.
Bill Moore, general manager of the Council’s Environmental Services Division, applauds the employees for such impressive achievements. “When I’m asked how we’ve managed to achieve such a good compliance record, I say it’s all about our staff,” Moore said. “Their hard work, dedication and pride make this happen. And the region benefits when we maintain high levels of environmental protection."
Through October 2010, the seven plants have all been in full compliance for the last 45 consecutive months.