SD1’s newest treatment plant, which began operating about five years ago, racked up another award when the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA) recently announced the first ever recipients of its new H2O awards.
Presented at the 2017 Governor’s Local Issues Conference in August, the agency’s H2O Award is designed to recognize excellence in efficiency, regionalization and best practices in the construction and operation of a KIA water infrastructure project. KIA Executive Director Donna McNeil and the Department for Local Government (DLG) Commissioner Sandra Dunahoo presented the H2O award for “Outstanding Leadership in Wastewater Project.”
SD1 relied on a $69.4 million KIA loan to construct Western Regional Water Reclamation Facility. The low-interest loan saved SD1 ratepayers about $54.2 million in interest costs when compared to traditional bonds. The plant design was developed with engineering firm GRW Inc., who took innovative steps to eliminate certain processes, reducing costs by an additional $6 million.
As SD1’s second largest treatment plant, Western Regional can treat up to 20 million gallons of wastewater each day and relieves demand on Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. Western Regional allows for additional residential growth across the region and supports industries important to Northern Kentucky’s economy. The plant also has prevented about 145 million gallons of sanitary sewer overflows in 2013 and 2014 alone.
SD1 is responsible for the collection and treatment of Northern Kentucky’s wastewater, as well as regional storm water management. SD1 is the second largest public sewer utility in Kentucky, serving about 290,000 residents throughout Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties.
“Sewer infrastructure is a lifeline to our community and essential to SD1’s mission to protect public health, property, the environment and support economic vitality,” said SD1 Executive Director Adam Chaney. “That mission wouldn’t be possible without great partnerships like the ones we have with KIA, DLG, our local government leaders and design engineers like GRW.
Together, we make clean water, a healthy Northern Kentucky and progress in our community possible.”
Eight SD1-operated treatment facilities also recognized with clean water awards
Western Regional also was one of eight treatment facilities owned or operated by SD1 that recently received a Peak Performance Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). Peak Performance Awards recognize facilities that provide superior wastewater treatment services by protecting local streams and customers’ health and wellness from harmful bacteria and other contaminants that could potentially be released into creeks and river
Along with Dry Creek and Rivershore Farms facilities, Western Regional received a Gold Peak Performance Award for consistently meeting permit requirements during 2016.
NACWA also awarded Platinum Peak Performance Awards to facilities without violations for five consecutive years, including Alexandria Dairy Mart, Charles H. Kelly School, Ethan’s Glen, and Verona Commons treatment facilities. A Silver Peak Performance Award was presented to Eastern Regional Water Reclamation Facility, which had no more than five violations during 2016.
“These awards recognize our employees’ dedication to serving Northern Kentucky as efficiently and effectively as possible,” Chaney said. “Our customers deserve the best service at a reasonable cost – something we are working toward every single day.”
SD1 maintains approximately 1,620 miles of sanitary sewer system pipeline, 120 wastewater pumping stations, 15 flood pump stations, seven package treatment plants, three major wastewater treatment plants, 450 miles of storm sewer system and 33,000 storm sewer structures.
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