Waterworlds

WEF recognizes top 15 in water pollution reduction

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is recognizing 15 utilities for significantly reducing nutrient pollution, one of the leading problems for the health of waterways across the U.S.

The utilities were selected through Nutrient Smart (NSmart), a collaboration between WEF and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to recognize utilities that have demonstrated nitrogen or phosphorus reductions and developed robust community outreach programs. Scroll below to see if a town near you is on the list!

Machinery at a Lancaster Area Sewer Authority plant in Pennsylvania. These utilities have reduced nutrients by at least 90 percent, per WEF data:

• Nine Springs Treatment Facility - Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (Wisconsin)

• Upper Occoquan Service Authority (Virginia)

• Town of Cary (North Carolina)

• Dorsey Run Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant (Maryland)

• Stafford County Utilities (Virginia)

• Rocky Gap State Park Wastewater Treatment Plant (Maryland)

• Freedom District Wastewater Treatment Plant (Maryland)

These utilities have reduced nutrients by 85 to 90 percent:

• Lancaster Area Sewer Authority (Pennsylvania)

• City of Boise (Idaho)

These utilities have reduced nutrients by 70 to 85 percent:

• Narragansett Bay Commission (Rhode Island)

• South Platte Renew (Colorado)

• Waterbury Water Pollution Control Facility (Connecticut)

• American Bottoms Regional Wastewater Facility (Illinois)

These utilities are working toward nutrient reduction of 30 to 70 percent and beginning outreach to the community on the issue:

• City of Greensboro, North Carolina - Water Resources Department, Water Reclamation Division

• Centennial Water and Sanitation District - Colorado

These utilities were additionally recognized as innovators for showcasing an outstanding example of treatment technology or leadership in nutrient management:

• Treatment Technology – City of Boise

• Treatment Technology – Narragansett Bay Commission

• Treatment Technology – Town of Cary

• Leadership in Nutrient Management – Upper Occoquan Service Authority

NSmart also provides information and tools to help utilities make large reductions in nutrients and discharge cleaner water to the environment. According to EPA, more than 100,000 miles of rivers and streams, close to 2.5 million acres of lakes and ponds, and more than 800 square miles of bays and estuaries are impacted by nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in the U.S. Nutrient pollution can also lead to algal blooms that are harmful to humans and animals. “Nutrients are one of the most common pollution problems in U.S. waterways and WEF is glad to shine a light on utilities that are leading the way in reducing nitrogen and phosphorus and engaging their communities,” said WEF President Jamie Eichenberger. “NSmart joins other WEF programs like Utility of the Future and ReNEW which aim to create bold, aspirational calls to action to accelerate resource recovery.”