New Bedford Industrial Pretreatment Program Recognized for Excellence

BOSTON – The New Bedford Industrial Pretreatment Program in New Bedford, Mass. was
recently selected by EPA for a 2016 Regional Industrial Pretreatment Program
Excellence Award.

The pretreatment program staff of New Bedford, led by Wayne Perry, Industrial
Pretreatment Program Engineer, under the supervision of Jamie Ponte, Wastewater
Superintendent, was recognized by EPA’s New England Office for exceptional work in
inspecting, permitting and sampling of industrial users that discharge industrial
waste into the City’s collection system.

Mr. Perry’s efforts to regulate the numerous amount of dentists that discharge
dental amalgam waste into the City’s sewer system was one of the primary reasons for
the award nomination. All 24 dental facilities were inspected in FY 2015 and found
to be in compliance with Massachusetts regulations. The City of New Bedford also
implements a septage hauler inspection program. Under this program, 100 percent of
all loads from 24 separate waste haulers are monitored for pH and visually inspected
for oil and grease. For many years, the City has also submitted outstanding annual
industrial pretreatment reports, which detail industrial pretreatment program
highlights over the course of the year.

“The professionals implementing the industrial pretreatment program, as well as the
state environmental agencies that support them, are key to keeping our environment
healthy. EPA is proud to give them the credit they deserve,” said Curt Spalding,
regional administrator of EPA’s New England Office.

The EPA Regional Industrial Pretreatment Program Excellence Award was established to
recognize and honor employees of publicly owned wastewater treatment plants for
their commitment to improving water quality through outstanding oversight of
industrial users discharging to the municipal sewer system. More often than not, and
particularly with smaller facilities, conscientious pretreatment coordinators and
staff continue to perform exceptionally with limited resources.

The New Bedford Pretreatment Program was presented the Excellence Award at the 18th
Annual EPA New England Industrial Pretreatment Program Conference in October, and
the awardees will also be acknowledged in January 2017, at the annual New England
Water Environment Association Conference in Boston.