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Feature story: Onondaga County nets statewide award

NYWEA president John D. Cameron presents the Municipal Achievement Award to Onondaga County. James A. Albanese, County Administrator for Physical Services (center) and Richard L. Elander, PE, Commissioner of WEP, accept the award.

At its 75th Annual Meeting in New York City in February 2003, the New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) honored Onondaga County, under the leadership of County Executive Nicholas Pirro, its Municipal Achievement Award. NYWEA is an organization of wastewater professionals that promotes the advancement of knowledge concerning effective water quality management programs and the management and operation of wastewater collection and treatment utilities.

In presenting the award, NYWEA stated:

The true level of commitment of any organization to environmental stewardship begins with the organization's leader. In the early 1990s, Onondaga County Executive Nicholas Pirro sent a strong message to over 4000 county employees when he established a comprehensive County Environmental Policy by Executive Order. In that Order, County Executive Pirro stated, “The County views protection of the environment as a fundamental obligation and priority.”

NYWEA went on to list the County's accomplishments:

  • Onondaga County has taken a leadership role and a proactive approach championed by their County Executive to control and mitigate surface water pollution throughout the County. Onondaga County is currently implementing thirty individual wastewater collection and treatment system projects worth $380 million to improve water quality in Onondaga Lake.

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  • The County has implemented Performance Maintenance Programs at each of their wastewater treatment plants that result in replacement of equipment that is approaching the end of its useful life.

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  • Onondaga County manages a solid waste program through an award-winning community-wide recycling program (recycled over 705,000 tons in 2001) and waste-to-energy facility that processes approximately 340,000 tons in 2001.

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  • Onondaga County also has an integrated pesticide management program, a policy to purchase and use recycled products, and a policy to reduce the use of and promote recycling of mercury-containing products.

NYWEA created the Municipal Achievement Award to recognize municipalities that make major commitments to protect and enhance environmental conditions, particularly water resources.

Click here to read the full text of the nominating petition that secured the award for Onondaga County.