WILTON — The work of a dedicated wastewater operator with lots of Yankee ingenuity has been recognized once again by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Russell Mathers, Wilton’s wastewater and water superintendent, recently received an operator award, according to DEP inspector, Beth DeHaas, who nominated him for the award.
“When two of four treatment units at the plant went down at the same time in 2006, instead of hiring a firm, Mathers researched and selected a replacement model that is more efficient and effective than the original,” said DeHaas, who has been inspecting the plant for six years.
The failed systems were designed for a 20 to 22 years lifespan but have been kept running for the 30-year plant history, she said.
“Mathers did good as far as keeping the plant running without violating water treatment. He took it on to himself and even acted as general contractor for the actual replacement work. It saved the town a significant amount,” she said.
Mathers also credited his fellow employees Monday for the effort, including an in-house mechanic who collaborated with Mathers rather than incurring the expense of hiring an engineer, he said.
DeHaas also felt Mathers’ past efforts resulted in “his doing an extra good job of maintaining the plant” were worthy of nomination for the award.
In 1998, the plant placed first in the EPA region as the best operating and maintained facility in New England. That same year, it placed second nationally, she said.
The facility was named composting facility of the year in 1999 for efforts to combine shavings with sludge that’s given away to local residents and in 2001 the facility was selected as the best maintained facility in the EPA region, she said.
“Mathers has done a lot of work at the plant in maintenance and operations. He’s doing a good job with treating wastewater that then flows in to Wilson Stream,” she said.
The award would have been presented at the Maine WasteWater Convention but when Mathers did not attend, DeHaas came to a recent town employee picnic to give it to him in front of his peers.
“We are pleased that Russ received this award from the state DEP as Russ has a great deal of pride and commitment in his job. Russ and the entire water/wastewater department do a super job in maintaining the plant, keeping costs down, and protecting the water quality and environment,” Wilton Town Manager Rhonda Irish said.
As for Mathers, he was pleased with the honor.
“It’s nice to have people know we are here. We don’t get too many visitors at the wastewater treatment plant,” he said.
Mathers is also currently applying for grant funding to replace and upgrade the present 30-year facility, DeHaas said.
Wilton’s water and wastewater Superintendent Russell Mathers recently received an award from the state Department of Environmental Protection. Standing next to him is DEP inspector Beth DeHaas, who nominated him for the award.
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