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2nd QUARTER NEWSLETTER 2016
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2nd Quarter 2016
This issue contains the following articles of interest.
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INDUSTRIAL PRETREATMENT CONFERENCE
On April 21st & 22nd, 2016, the 25th Annual Industrial Pretreatment Conference was held at The Inn at Reading. This event was again co-sponsored by the US EPA and the EPWPCOA. 120 people attended the conference. We would like to thank all of the presenters and vendors. They did a great job. A special thank you to John and Steve from the US EPA for their hard work and many contributions. The next conference is being planned. The Industrial Pretreatment Committee is also providing Local Limits Training on September 21st, 2016 at the Holiday Inn in Lansdale, PA. If you are interested in attending, the announcement will be posted on the
calendar, when available.
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HORSHAM WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY MEETING
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It was a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Horsham)
The weather could not have been any finer and the plant could not have looked any better for the 154 attendees and 75 vendors who visited the Horsham Park Creek Sewage Treatment Plant on Friday, May 20,2016.
The gorgeous weather had everybody in such a good mood, that many couldn't wait to get back to work on Friday afternoon to spread the good cheer. That's why some people left early, right?
Anyway, the Horsham Water & Sewer Authority graciously hosted us for a tour of their Park Creek WWTP, which recently completed an upgrade. A brief description of the plant follows: After Headworks, the flow goes to a 780,000 gallon Equalization Tank and is then pumped to the A2O process.
In case you didn't know, A2O stands for "Americans to Oman", a new program to improve relationships between the two countries. Ha ha, I put that in there to see if anybody is actually reading this. A2O is really a treatment process which includes multiple zones including Anaerobic, Anoxic and Oxic.
Following the A20 tanks, the wastewater goes to final clarifiers, followed by disc filters and UV disinfection. Waste sludge goes to digesters then centrifuges for dewatering and ultimately to landfill disposal. Many thanks to Horsham Water & Sewer Authority, especially Mike Healey, Rich Freer and their staff for hosting us!
The lunch meeting was held at Talamore Country Club which is a very nice facility. In fact, as I was walking in, they directed me to the employee entrance. I guess I should dress nicer next time.
Anna Miller, a Horsham Board Member, graciously provided the Invocation, Mike Healey introduced his staff and then Alex Dyke of Gilmore and Associates gave an interesting talk about the recent Construction Project. Gilmore took over as the Construction Manager part way through the project, which was very challenging, to say the least. Alex also said some nice things about my company, Keystone Engineering (we helped with electrical issues during construction and provided SCADA programming) and it only cost me a dollar.
Thanks again to our Lunch Sponsor: Gilmore and Associates, and our breakfast Sponsor: Keystone Engineering Group. And as always - Marykay, the Vendors, and our Host.
Yours very truly,
Phil Schwartz, President
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PUBLIC OUTREACH
EPWPCOA Members have been busy getting information out about our industry to the public.
Members of the Public Education Committee have worked with several Scout Troops to earn badges. The Committee also planned to attend an event called Aqua Polluzza where approximately 600 students were scheduled to attend, but it was cancelled due to bad weather.
On April 20th, Ron Schultz, Kara Humes and Walter Higgins attended the Schuylkill County Career Fair, 945 Students attended. Click here for a link to the article in the Republican Herald.
Mike Nelson has also been very active. He has visited several schools, including a presentation to 80 students on April 6th from Eastern Center. Click here for a link to an article from this event. He also provided a presentation on May 11th to approximately 35
Council Rock North high school students, followed by a tour of the Baxter Water Plant.
A new Committee is being formed to provide information on job opportunities in our industry. If you are interested in joining this new Committee, the Public Education Committee or providing information and/or demonstrating the Enviroscape in your area, please contact the office.
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SOIREE
The EPWPCOA Soiree at PennTec was held on Sunday, June 5th
, 2016 and was a great success! The music added a cool vibe to the evening, and the food was delicious! A big thank you to our sponsors listed below:
Platinum Sponsor
Miller Environmental
Gold Sponsors
DELCORA
Envirep/TLC
Hazen & Sawyer, PC
Keystone Engineering Group, Inc.
Whitman, Requardt & Associates, LLP
Silver Sponsors
Bowen, Calhoun & Associates, Inc.
M.J. Reider Associates, Inc.
Mott MacDonald
Municipal Maintenance Company, Inc.
Terre Hill Composites
Bronze Sponsors
Pyrz Water Supply Company, Inc.
Riordan Materials Corporation
SSM Group, Inc.
A special thank you to Kershner Environmental Technologies, Inc. for helping to sponsor the band! The EPWPCOA Board has voted to continue the support for this event. Hope to see everyone next year at the Kalahari Resorts in the Poconos!
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COLLEGES & SCHOLARSHIPS
Over the past few years, in addition to the Association giving scholarship money to Members and children of Members, we have also been providing money to colleges who offer Wastewater courses. This includes: Delaware County Community College, Montgomery County Community College, and Reading Area Community College.
Interesting Factoid:
We have learned that four students who completed the Wastewater Certification Program at Reading Area Community College (RACC) together ended up working at the Township of Spring together!
Click here for the article "Waste Not, Want Not" from RACC's Communique.
In addition, we are also hoping to support Thaddeus Stevens in their Water & Environmental Technology course. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology (TSCT) has been awarded a National Science Foundation grant for a project entitled "Skilled Women Get STEM Jobs".
Click here for an article concerning this grant.
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TRADE SHOW
The 2016 Trade Show will be held on September 16, 2016 in Leesport, PA. The announcement will be mailed in the beginning of August. We will again have vendor presentations. Thanks to the sponsoring vendors,
we will have breakfast sandwiches!
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GOLF TOURNAMENT
The 2016 Golf Tournament will again be held at Heidelberg County Club on October 14th, 2016. We sold out last year, so be sure to register early! The announcement will be mailed in the beginning of August.
We are looking for sponsors: Hole, Bronze, Silver, Gold are all available!
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If you know of money-saving solutions to costly plant challenges and would like to share your experience with others in the industry, please feel free to reach out to us at
epwpcoa@ptd.net. We would be happy to highlight your story in one of our upcoming newsletter issues!
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A list of members who have recently passed away is listed on our website under
Members in Memory
. The Association is saddened by their passing and wishes to express sympathy to their family and friends. If you have any information on members recently deceased please forward it to the Association office.
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UPCOMING EVENTS - 2016
June 24
- Mid-Summer Expo at St. Benedict's Picnic Grove in Mohnton, PA
Sept 16 - Trade Show in Leesport, PA
Sept 21 - Industrial Pretreatment Committee Training
Oct 6 - Collections Systems Committee Training
Oct 14 - Golf Tournament
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Philip Schwartz, 2016 President
Eastern Pennsylvania Water Pollution Control Operators Association
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