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U.S. EPA presents prestigious national water award to the city of Fresno; The city placed first in the nation in large wastewater pretreatment category

Release Date: 11/28/2006
Contact Information: Mark Merchant, (415) 947-4297

(11/28/06 -- Fresno, Calif.) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced the city of Fresno has received a first-place award for its outstanding and innovative achievements in wastewater treatment and pollution prevention.

    The large pretreatment award category is for municipalities with more than 21 significant industrial users.

    Alexis Strauss, the director of the EPA’s Water Division for the Pacific Southwest Region, presented the national award to the Fresno City Council at its regular board meeting Nov. 28.

    “The EPA is pleased to recognize the city's investment in protecting its infrastructure, and water quality, through its award-winning pretreatment program,” said Strauss. “The managers and staff have brought many innovative approaches to their wastewater treatment program.”


    The EPA’s pretreatment awards recognize municipalities that effectively implement this complex regulatory program that ensures industrial wastewater is being treated before entering the nation’s waters. Award recipients implement measures that go beyond the basic pretreatment program and demonstrate innovation in implementing the program.

    “This award reflects the city’s commitment to the protection of our national resources and the infrastructures that makes that possible,” said Fresno Mayor Alan Autry.

    The EPA’s National Pretreatment Program has led the way in dramatically reducing or eliminating pollution releases to sewer systems and the nation’s water bodies. The program controls a complex array of industrial wastewater to prevent interference or pass–through of municipal treatment system processes. Without these controls, a number of harmful pollutants could make their way into the nation’s waters. Federal, state and local partnerships are central to the successful implementation of the program.


    For more information, visit: http://epa.gov/region9/water/pretreatment/index.html