July 29, 2009

For the fourth straight year, the Commerce Township Wastewater Treatment Plant has won the top performance award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). At the same time, the Walled Lake-Novi Wastewater Treatment Plant won the top prize for the third year in a row.

Both facilities were awarded the prestigious Gold Peak Performance Award, which was given in recognition of their “100 percent, complete and consistent National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit compliance,” for calendar year 2008.

“Even though we’ve won this award repeatedly in the past, I am just as pleased and excited about being in such rarified company as I was when we won our very first award,” said Water Resources Commissioner John P. McCulloch. “I’m extremely delighted with the level of conscientious professionalism displayed by the crews working at these two facilities. It is a remarkable achievement.”

McCulloch said the awards “once again represent continued national recognition of our level of service and commitment to the people of Oakland County.”

NACWA Executive Director Ken Kirk said that winning two gold awards was “an outstanding example of environmental efforts.”

He said that the NACWA is honored to showcase the achievements of the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s office and our nation’s public wastewater utilities through the Peak Performance Awards Program.

The award recognizes public wastewater treatment facilities for uncompromising compliance with clean water standards. The gold award is given to those facilities that have achieved 100 percent compliance with the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit for an entire calendar year.