WEF Leaders Speak at NBP EMS Certification Celebrations

July 19, 2012

From left, Ted Tyree, Knoxville (Tenn.) Utilities Board (KUB) manager; Eileen J. O’Neill, WEF deputy director; Chris Hornbeck, National Association of Clean Water Agencies senior director; Wayne Loveday, KUB vice president; Mintha Roach, KUB president and chief executive officer; and Bill Elmore, KUB executive vice president and chief operating officer, pariticpate in KUB’s National Biosolids Partnership (NBP) certification celebration. Photo courtesy of KUB. Click for larger image.

In May, Water Environment Federation (WEF; Alexandria, Va.) leaders attended events honoring two utilities’ National Biosolids Partnership (NBP; Alexandria) environmental management system (EMS) certification.

On May 16, WEF Deputy Executive Director Eileen O’Neill spoke at the Knoxville (Tenn.) Utilities Board (KUB) celebration. O’Neill and National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA; Washington, D.C.) Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs Chris Hornback presented the certification plaque to KUB members and staff. The utility became the 34th organization in North America and the second in Tennessee to receive NBP EMS certification.

Left, WEF Executive Director Jeff Eger speaks at the Renewable Water Resources’ (Greenville, S.C.) NBP celebration. Above from left, Eger stands with Renewable Water employees Jolene Devaney, Larry Camp, J.D. Martin, Jessica Brown, Glen McManus, Bryan Kohart, Joey Collins, Ray Orvin, and Stacey Flax, and National Clean Water Agency Executive Director Ken Kirk at the celebration. Photos courtesy of Renewable Water Resources. Click for larger images.

And on May 23, WEF Executive Director Jeff Eger spoke at the Renewable Water Resources’ (Greenville, S.C.) NBP EMS celebration. Eger and the other featured speaker, NACWA Executive Director Ken Kirk, presented the certification plaque and flag to staff. The utility became the 33rd organization in North America and the first in South Carolina to receive NBP EMS certification.

The ceremonies recognized both utilities’ achievement of effective biosolids EMSs.

— Jennifer Fulcher, WEF Highlights

Bronze-Level NBP Participants Attend Workshop To Share Information

On April 4, 10 organizations received special Bronze-level recognition from the National Biosolids Partnership (NBP; Alexandria, Va.) for commitment to good practice and plans for third-party verification of their biosolids management programs.

These organizations attended a workshop in Alexandria to prepare to conduct their first internal audits in anticipation of independent verification of their biosolids management programs. The training included a session featuring talks by several professionals with hands-on auditing and program experience.

Dan Collins from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, spoke at the session. He said his district “has realized up to 15% savings in the operational and program costs of its biosolids program through participation in this program. It’s exciting to help others establish successful programs that can benefit their communities and the environment.”

The recognition is the first step in NBP’s streamlined recognition program, which includes progressively more rigorous standards for Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels. To date, 34 organizations have achieved Platinum-level certification.