Hello and welcome to 2022, albeit a bit later than usual.

Due to some staffing changes in the recent months, we are feverishly working on getting caught up with our newsletters, so keep your eyes on your inboxes.

September 17, 2021 | Lancaster PA

On September 17, 2021, the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority graciously and expertly hosted 140 attendees, 56 vendors, and 1 dog at their Wastewater Treatment Plant. The plant is rated for 15 MGD and has lots of big tanks and lots of cool stuff like the MLE process. If you don’t know what MLE stands for, don’t worry, they recently upgraded that to a 5 stage Bardenpho process as part of a $28 million dollar upgrade (that’s a lot of Bourbon).

Thanks to RK&K for the breakfast, Buchart Horn for the mini-training session and LASA for their educational presentation and for sponsoring the mailing. Thanks Mike Kyle, the LASA Executive Director, and his staff for hosting. I’m not just saying nice things about LASA because my company does work for them, but that is the main reason. A special shout out also to Scot Fertich of LASA, even though his first name is spelled wrong.

The business meeting took place at the Heritage Hotel right down the street from LASA’s offices, a trip that only takes about ½ an hour for that ¼ of a mile.

On a sad note, I saved seats at my table for Anne Marek and Dave Kershner and neither of them showed up, so I sat alone. I swore I would never talk to them again, but then Anne recently invited me to a free happy hour, so all is forgiven for her (but not you, Dave).

As always, many thanks to Marykay and everyone else who helped with this event.

Reported while sober,

by Phil Schwartz of Keystone Engineering Group.

September 10, 2021 | St. Benedict's

Picnic Grove in Mohnton, PA

On September 10, 2021 EPWPCOA hosted their "Mid"-Summer Expo at St. Benedict's Picnic Grove in Mohnton, PA. As in recent years, it was catered by Wegman's Catering and Go Fish Seafood who provided Clam and Shrimp Bakes.

This year, the event was Pile of Poop Emoji themed. Boy, what a sh*t show! Needless to say, it was a buttload of fun between the various tournaments that were held onsite along with many raffle prizes!

AccentPDIR, Inc

Dutchland, Inc.

H.A. DeHart & Son

Hach Company

Iron Horse Environmental, LLC

KELSO

Kershner Environmental Technologies, LLC

Mobile Dredging & Video Pipe, Inc.

Municipal Parts & Supply, Inc.

Riordan Materials Corporation

Sherwood Logan & Associates

Question: A plane crashes exactly in the middle of the Berks-Montgomery Municipal Authority’s WWTP, so in which County are the survivors buried?

Answer: Survivors are not typically buried.

If you don’t find that funny, then maybe you should volunteer to write the next article (I’m just saying).

Anyway, on November 19, 2021, the Berks-Montgomery Municipal Authority (BMMA) hosted a meeting and tour of their Swamp Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. Approximately 180 folks attended along with 51 Vendors (my favorite vendor was Keystone Engineering). The WWTP is pretty awesome as it has the Co-Mag process along with non-contact UV and some sludge stuff too. Thanks to Lew Christy and his gang for hosting, the facility looked great.

One of the highlights of the day for me was the school bus ride from Keystone Fire Company to the plant and back. I’m not saying the bus ride was long, but I did hear some people singing “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall”.

Special thanks to SDE for the breakfast, Evoqua for the mini training on Ballasted Flocculation Technology (I use that phrase to impress people at cocktail parties), and BMMA/Evoqua/Riordan for the presentation.

The lunch included food, which was nice, followed by the business meeting, induction of new officers and the much-anticipated awards ceremony. Congrats to all our new officers and all the award recipients. I was particularly humbled and surprised to be awarded a Life Membership, especially since it saves me $45/year, which does buy a nice bottle of Bourbon. I always mention Marykay for all her work, and other EPWPCOA-ers who helped.

Written at the beach with a crayon

by Phil Schwartz, Keystone Engineering (my favorite Vendor)

Please let us know if you have an idea for a story or something you would like to include in a newsletter.

Sincerely,

Eastern Pennsylvania Water Pollution Control Operators Association

Art Auchenbach, 2022 President

Cora Shenk, Publications Chair