BOSTON, Mass. – The Burrillville Wastewater Treatment Plant will be recipient of the Environmental Protection Agancy’s 2023 Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operation & Maintenance Excellence Award for Rhode Island.
Supt. Michael Edmond was notified of the honor in a letter from Region 1 of the EPA. The facility, located at 141 Clear River Drive in Oakland, was nominated for the award by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.
“This is bigger than Rhode Island,” said Town Councilor Dennis Anderson in discussing the award at a meeting last week. “This is a pretty significant thing.”
Led by Edmond and governed by a five member, appointed Burrillville Sewer Commission, the plant treats an average of 0.83 million gallons of wastewater per day in dry weather, serving approximately 9,700 customers in the community, according to a 2017 task report by RIDEM. The Excellence Award was established to recognize and honor the employees of publicly owned wastewater treatment plants for its commitment to improving water quality with outstanding plant operations and maintenance.
It is not the first time the Burrillville facility and its governing board receive recognition. The Burrillville Sewer Commission also received the 2015 Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Excellence Award and was one of just five facilities throughout New England recognized that year.
Current commission members include Chairman William Andrews; Vice Chairman Richard Nolan; and members Gary Rouleau, Daniel Joubert and Thomas Trimble, with Anderson serving as the council’s liaison
Edmond and Andrews are set to officially receive the award at the New England Environment Association Conference, to be held in Boston, Mass. on Sunday, Jan. 21.
