ATHOL — The town’s wastewater treatment plant last month received a 2016 Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Excellence Award from the Environmental Protection Agency.
The plant, led by Chief Operator Robert Sexton, was one of six New England facilities recognized by the EPA’s regional office for exceptional work in operation and maintenance in 2016. A couple of crew members accepted the award at the New England Water Environment Association conference in Boston in January.
Andrew Tessier, Athol’s water and sewer foreman, said he found out around Christmas that the plant’s three crew members won the distinction.
“It was very nice to be recognized by the EPA,” he said. “(The plant’s employees) work hard down there to treat the waste. There is a lot of equipment to maintain and they’re right on top of it, maintaining it.”
Tessier said crew members handle everything from laboratory work to plant maintenance. He said this is the first EPA award for the wastewater department.
According to the EPA, its Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Excellence Award was established to recognize and honor employees of publicly-owned wastewater treatment plants for their commitment to improving water quality.
“The professionals operating wastewater treatment plants play a very important role in keeping our communities and environment healthy by protecting water quality,” Deborah Szaro, acting regional administrator of the New England office, said in a press release. “We are proud to acknowledge this staff’s outstanding contributions to help protect public health and water quality and to give them the credit they deserve.”
More information can be found online at http://bit.ly/2kY3rch.