EPA Honors New England Wastewater Facilities with 2025 Regional Awards
EPA Honors New England Wastewater Facilities with 2025 Regional Awards
What Happened
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency presented its 2025 Regional Wastewater Treatment Awards to seven facilities and professionals across New England. The program, now in its fourth decade, recognizes outstanding contributions to water quality protection and environmental stewardship in the region.
EPA Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn said: "Strong wastewater systems are essential to protecting human health, supporting economic growth, and keeping New England's rivers, lakes and coastal waters clean."
Who Was Recognized
Operation and Maintenance Excellence
Rockland Pollution Control Facility in Rockland, Maine was honored for exceptional performance and sustained infrastructure investment that keeps the facility running at a high level year after year.
Operators of the Year
- Nick Thompson, Assistant Superintendent, Warwick Sewer Authority (Rhode Island)
- Walt Arsenault, Shelburne Wastewater Treatment Facility (Vermont)
- Edward Abel, Superintendent, Derby Water Pollution Control Facility (Connecticut)
Each operator was recognized for leadership in compliance, operations, staff development, and long-term dedication to their communities.
Trainer of the Year
Elijah Lemieux of the Vermont Rural Water Association received the Charles Conway Award for his contributions to operator education, including math instruction and exam preparation that help new operators earn their certifications.
Industrial Pretreatment Programs of the Year
The City of Northampton and Town of Westborough in Massachusetts were commended for strong industrial user oversight through effective permitting, inspection, and enforcement programs.
Why It Matters for Chemical Suppliers
Wastewater treatment is one of the largest end markets for industrial chemicals in the United States. Facilities like those recognized by the EPA rely on a steady supply of treatment chemicals including sodium hypochlorite, sulfuric acid, caustic soda, and polymer flocculants to meet discharge permit requirements.
Awards like these highlight the facilities and operators who set the standard for compliance and operational excellence. For chemical distributors, understanding what top-performing facilities look like helps inform how we support the industry with the right products, documentation, and technical guidance.
Key Takeaways
- EPA Region 1 covers Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont
- The awards program has been running for over 40 years
- Industrial pretreatment programs were specifically recognized — a reminder that upstream chemical handling directly affects downstream water quality
- Operator training and certification remain critical to facility performance
Alliance's Take
Water treatment is in Alliance Chemical's DNA. We supply water treatment chemicals to municipal facilities, cooling towers, and industrial operations across the country — and we understand that compliance isn't optional in this industry.
What stands out about this year's awards is the emphasis on industrial pretreatment. The facilities in Northampton and Westborough earned recognition specifically for how they manage chemical discharges from industrial users. That's a space where having reliable, well-documented chemical supplies matters enormously.
Every order from Alliance Chemical ships with a Certificate of Analysis (COA) and Safety Data Sheet (SDS), because when your facility is being evaluated by the EPA, documentation is as important as the chemistry itself. If you operate a water treatment facility or supply chemicals to one, our team can help you find the right products for your treatment processes.
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