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Five Georgia Utilities—Including One in Alpharetta—Recognized for Outstanding Water Quality Achievement

Release Date: 12/15/2008
Contact Information: Davina Marraccini, (404) 562-8293, [email protected]

(ATLANTA – December 15, 2008) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented the Manor Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) in Alpharetta, Ga., with a 2008 Regional Operations and Maintenance Excellence Award during a ceremony at the EPA’s Atlanta office. WRF is one of six facilities recognized in the Southeast and one of 24 winners nationally in the 2008 National Clean Water Act Recognition Awards competition..

“EPA is proud to recognize the municipalities that go far beyond the minimum requirements needed to meet the Clean Water Act,” said EPA Region 4 Administrator Jimmy Palmer.

WRF received first-place regionally and nationally for its operations and maintenance in the small non-discharging plant subcategory. The facility was recognized for its outstanding compliance record, effective automation system, proactive equipment maintenance and commitment to protecting the environment and community. The WRF has maintained 100 percent permit compliance and has met self-imposed process limits to produce a superior quality effluent that is used to irrigate an on-site, 18-hole golf course and some nearby residential lawns.

The facility operates a closed-loop treatment system designed to ensure its effluent has no negative impact on surface water, groundwater, air quality or human health. WRF runs an efficient, automated system using a membrane process for ultrafiltration and ultraviolet disinfection. By fine-tuning its automation, WRF has increased energy savings and made other significant process improvements that have resulted in better bacteriological control, decreased mechanical problems and improved plant safety.

EPA’s Regional and National Clean Water Act Recognition Awards showcase communities with outstanding operations and maintenance programs or practices at their wastewater treatment facilities. The award evaluation criteria considers permit compliance, field monitoring, process control, pollution prevention, laboratory and financial management, equipment maintenance and other key operating requirements. Award nominees are recognized in nine operations and maintenance categories based on each facility’s treatment level and flow capacity.

The EPA recognized 24 organizations across the country this year for demonstrating outstanding water quality achievements for projects and programs in five award categories: operations and maintenance, exemplary biosolids management, implementation and enforcement of local pretreatment programs, cost-effective stormwater controls, and combined sewer overflow controls.

The EPA-sponsored awards program is in its 23rd year, and recognizes wastewater treatment facilities and their contributions to protecting the public’s health and safety and the nation’s water quality.

For a complete list of the winners, visit: https://www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/intnet.htm