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Manhattan Public Utilities honored with three awards for wastewater treatment excellence

City of Manhattan News Posted on September 06, 2024

(MANHATTAN, Kan. – September 6, 2024) — The City of Manhattan’s recently reorganized Department of Public Utilities has received several state and national awards recently for excellence in wastewater treatment processes.

Manhattan was selected as the 2024 recipient of two awards this year from the Kansas Water Environment Association (KWEA). The City received both the Class 5 Wastewater Treatment Plant Award (for plants that process more than 5 million gallons per day) and the Outstanding Biosolids Management Program.

The City previously was honored in 2010, 2011, 2015, 2021, and 2022 for its Biosolids program, and it also received the Class 5 awards in 2001, 2002, and 2015 (honorable mention).

Randy DeWitt, the City’s assistant director of public works for water and wastewater, and Environmental Compliance Manager Abdu Durar, along with Senior Biosolids/Lift Station Technician Daniel Tidwell, received the awards on behalf of the City at an August 27 awards luncheon in the Grand Eagle Ballroom at the Wichita Hyatt Regency Hotel.

The City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) also was honored by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) during a July 24 ceremony during NACWA’s 2024 Utility Leadership Conference in Buffalo, N.Y.

The WWTP was recognized by NACWA for its outstanding level of compliance and performance related to its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. A NPDES permit is required for wastewater treatment facilities to discharge into waters of the United States. It outlines requirements that ensure discharges do not harm water quality or human health.

The plant was awarded the NACWA Peak Performance Platinum Award for achieving 100% compliance at the Gold level with no permit violations for the entire six-year period (2018-2023).

This is the second consecutive year that the WWTP received the national NACWA award. In 2023, the City received the Peak Performance Platinum Award (PDF) for the five calendar years from 2018 through 2022.

“NACWA is proud to present this year’s Peak Performance Awards to the extraordinary member utilities whose unyielding dedication to providing reliable clean water services has enhanced the environment and quality of life for millions across the country,” said NACWA Chief Executive Officer Adam Krantz.

“This esteemed recognition underscores their commitment to providing outstanding service and the vital role clean water utilities play in serving their respective communities.”


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