May 4, 2006 - The EPA grants the OCUA's Northern Facility a regional excellence award

The Northern Water Pollution Control Facility of the Ocean County Utilities Authority (OCUA) has received a Regional Award for O&M Excellence in the Large - Secondary Treatment Plant Category from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The presentation was made during the President’s Award Luncheon held as part of the NJ Water Environment Federation (NJWEA) Spring Conference at the Tropicana Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Accepting the award on behalf of the Authority were Chairman John C. Parker and Kenneth Stegemann, Director of the Northern Division.
     USEPA Region 2 regulates the environmental protection of the waterways which receive the treated effluent from facilities in the metropolitan area, and is very careful in assessing which, if any, facilities are worthy of consideration for this award. For many decades OCUA personnel have been consistently operating the conveyance and treatment facilities with exceptional results. OCUA’s staff has been consistently treating sewage to higher levels than required by their NJPDES Discharge Permits, and in so doing have made great contributions to improving the water quality of the Atlantic Ocean. Protecting the environment is a way of life at the OCUA, and the best measure of success is in the results achieved.
     The NWPCF staff has been recognized for both the effective treatment of sewage, as well as extremely efficient operations. One example of this efficiency includes the utilization of the digester gas as a fuel for the cogeneration system which has resulted in a nearly 40% reduction in the energy costs to operate the facility. All of this contributes to reducing the overall costs for treatment, and the resulting service charges to OCUA’s customer municipalities.