Alexandria wastewater treatment operators win award from MPCA

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) recently recognized Troy Drewes and Darin Schlief from the Alexandria Lake Area Sanitary District for outstanding performance in wastewater operations during 2009.

The awards were announced recently at the 73rd annual Wastewater Operations Conference in Brooklyn Center.

MPCA Assistant Commissioner Rebecca Flood had high praise for the award recipients. “Minnesota’s wastewater operators are at the front lines in protecting our state’s water resources. The women and men being recognized today have worked diligently, day in and day out, to ensure that Minnesotans can enjoy clean water today and in years to come.”

To be eligible for the award, facility operators had to comply with discharge permit requirements throughout the 2009 calendar year. These requirements included submitting all monitoring reports to the MPCA correctly and on time, demonstrating compliance through monitoring or in surveys, and employing MPCA-certified operators.

This is the 33rd year that the MPCA has awarded certificates of commendation to wastewater treatment plants. This year, 170 Minnesota facilities were awarded certificates of commendation. The Alexandria Lake Area Sanitary District first received this award in 1980 and has earned an award 18 times since then.

The Wastewater Operations Conference brings together wastewater operators from all over Minnesota for training and professional education. There are about 1,700 wastewater treatment facilities in Minnesota, including municipal, industrial and some privately-operated institutional facilities.

The size of the community, institution or treatment plant is not a factor in awarding the certificates of excellence.

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