Ironhouse Sanitary District continues to garner major awards, and for the first time in its history has been named Plant of the Year for the entire state by the California Water Environment Association, or CWEA. The prestigious title is one of several ISD and its employees took home in CWEA’s recent regional and statewide competitions.
“This is a great honor for us,” said Chad Davisson, general manager. “We’re working hard to ensure that Ironhouse delivers the highest quality clean, sustainable recycled water, and to be recognized by our peers as the best in the state is incredibly gratifying.”
Davisson also acknowledged a proactive Board of Directors and an innovative team of professionals as keys to ISD positioning itself not only as a leader in the recycled water industry, but also as a role model that other similar-sized agencies throughout California can aspire to.
Opened in 2011, the Water Recycling Facility can produce 4.3 million gallons of exceptionally high quality recycled water per day without the use of chemicals. It uses an innovative membrane bioreactor treatment system and ultraviolet light, which enable the plant to produce recycled water that exceeds strict state standards for water cleanliness.
The Plant of the Year award was among three statewide top honors ISD received during the annual CWEA spring conference in Sacramento. Ironhouse public outreach consultant Roni Gehlke won for Community Engagement and Outreach Person of the Year, while the District’s Ironhouse Insider newsletter was named Newsletter of the Year. The District also received two second place awards: Supervisor of the Year for collections supervisor Louis Solana, and Community Engagement Project of the Year for the Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) recycling station.
To qualify for the state awards, entries must first win at CWEA regional competition. ISD is a member of the CWEA San Francisco Bay Section, which held its awards banquet at the Concord Hilton in January.
Founded in 1927, CWEA is a nonprofit public benefit association of more than 9,300 water quality professionals who are responsible for cleaning California’s water and returning it safely to the environment.
“We will continue to do our best for our customers,” Davisson said. “This is just the beginning of what we want to achieve and where we want to go. We hold keeping the environment healthy and safe for our communities in the highest regard and intend to continue to be among the best in the state.”
Below is a complete list of awards Ironhouse received this year:
CWEA STATE LEVEL
☛ FIRST PLACE: Plant of the Year, Small — Water Recycling Facility
☛ FIRST PLACE: Community Engagement and Outreach, Person of the Year — Roni Gehlke, R&G Promotions, ISD Public Outreach Consultant
☛ FIRST PLACE: Community Engagement and Outreach, Newsletter of the Year — Ironhouse Insider newsletter
☛ SECOND PLACE: Supervisor of the Year — Louis Solana, ISD Collections Superintendent☛ SECOND PLACE: Community Engagement and Outreach, Project of the Year, Small Budget — Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) Recycling Station
CWEA SAN FRANCISCO BAY SECTION
☛ FIRST PLACE: Plant of the Year, Small
☛ FIRST PLACE: Collection System of the Year, Small
☛ FIRST PLACE: Community Engagement and Outreach, Person of the Year ☛ FIRST PLACE: Community Engagement and Outreach, Project of the Year ☛ FIRST PLACE: Supervisor of the Year