City's Wastewater Plant Wins Award

The Wastewater Plant set new records in 2017 for nutrient removal after investing $100 million in plant upgrades, thanks to the hard work of the operations, maintenance and support staff. Total nitrogen released to the James River was reduced by 24,000 pounds over 2016 and phosphorous was reduced by 6,000 pounds.

As a result, the plant received the 2017 NACWA (National Association of Clean Water Agencies Award) for its environmental performance upgrade project.

“I expect the plant to again be the best performing plant on this stretch of the James River,” said Grace LeRose, program manager. “Richmond’s ratepayers are experiencing the benefits of their investment in this infrastructure with a cleaner James River and Chesapeake Bay.”

“We couldn’t have done it without our personnel,” Ed Edmondson, utility operations superintendent, said of the approximately 100 wastewater employees. As for the future, “We’ll focus on biosolids,” he said.

Two important ways citizens and Richmond businesses can help with biosolids management is to not pour grease and oils into drains and to properly dispose of medications, especially antibiotics, through means other than flushing down the drain. Conserving water and repairing leaks are other things citizens can do that will directly benefit their own utility bills.

Wastewater management is a challenging career for young people looking for steady, reliable employment.

“The schedule is tough, the work is tough. You spend a lot of time monitoring, and you always have to be ready to go if something happens. The stress is mental,” said Edmondson. As a result, there’s always vacancies to fill and opportunities for advancement. Successful wastewater personnel need quantitative, logic, reading and comprehension skills for analyzing data and solving problems.

“The pay is good, but there’s that ‘ick’ factor and it is rotating shiftwork,” he said.

Applicants, even those with a high school education, can look forward to a fulfilling career with opportunities to train and learn more about the profession. New hires have two years to earn their certification licenses.

It’s not an all-male profession either. Three women have advanced successfully through the operator ranks including Barbara Jackson, utility operations supervisor at the retention basin, and utility operators Jewel Minor and Vernia Hawthorne.

Supervisors Ed Edmondson (fourth from left) and Clair Watson (eighth from left) celebrate setting new nutrient removal records at the Wastewater Plant with some of the 100 division employees.