MPCA recognizes outstanding wastewater treatment operators

Paul Hoeschen, of Cold Spring (consultant for Kimball), received the award for the City of Kimball from Karen Studders.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency recently recognized outstanding performance by operators of wastewater treatment plants around the state during 2001. This year, 66 facilities were awarded certificates of commendation for meeting the agency’s criteria for excellence in operations at the MPCA’s 65th Annual Wastewater Operations Conference, held March 20, in Bloomington.

The seminar brings together wastewater operators from all over Minnesota for training and professional education. Commissioner Karen Studders presented the certificates and commended the winners for their outstanding efforts to help protect and preserve Minneso-ta’s water resources.

To be eligible for the certificates, winning facility, city of Kimball, had to comply with the requirements of their discharge permits throughout the year, including submitting all monitoring reports to the MPCA correctly and on time, demonstrating compliance through monitoring, or in surveys, and employing MPCA-certified operators.

There are about 1,300 wastwater 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.