In general, an Environmental Management System is a management program designed to identify a utility’s most important priorities, and then ensure that the utility’s resources are harnessed toward meeting those top priorities and continually improving performance.
The CCMUA’s four most important priorities are:
1.) Optimizing water quality performance in order to protect the rivers and streams of Camden County
2.) Optimizing odor control performance in order to minimize adverse impact to our neighboring community
3.) Maximizing cost efficiencies for the benefit of our ratepayers, without sacrificing environmental performance
4.) Community service
Since the CCMUA implemented an Environmental Management System, it has:
A.) Increased effluent quality significantly by capturing an additional 10-15,000 tons of sludge annually, thereby resulting in a positive impact on the Delaware River. In addition, suspended solids levels have been reduced from about 25 parts per million to about 7 parts per million.
B.) Improved odor control performance by installing approximately $20 million in new odor control equipment and also implementing institutional and operational controls to improve performance.
C.) Reduced operating costs such that the CCMUA’s user rate is actually lower than it was in 1996. Specifically, the CCMUA has held its rate for the past 15 years, with three rate cuts, while simultaneously improving environmental performance
The CCMUA is in the process of completing a new sludge drying facility which will help to reduce its operating costs and also reduce odors. The CCMUA is also in the process of investigating the possibility of implementing solar power at the treatment plant. The CCMUA is continually seeking opportunities to improve environmental performance and minimize cost to its ratepayers.
The Camden County MUA is seeking to have its environmental management system certified by the National Biosolids Partnership(NBP), a joint venture between the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Water Environmental Federation. Accordingly, the NBP will undertake an on-site third party audit, from September 6 – 7 at the CCMUA’s offices. The purpose of the audit is to ascertain how successful the CCMUA’s Environmental Management System has been in helping the CCMUA achieve its three main goals of: optimizing water quality performance, optimizing odor control performance, & minimizing cost to our ratepayers Certification from the National Biosolids Partnership is a tremendous honor for water and wastewater utilities; only 28 utilities, out of a possible 14,000+ utilities, have been able to earn this certification thus far.
Jon Shaver from DEKRA is scheduled to visit the Authority on 8/9/2012. This is a follow up to the Biosolids EMS Interim Audit. Any interested parties with comments please contact: Andrew Kricun, P.E., EMS Coordinator. (856) 583-1280.
Addition Reading:
A PDF Document of the Camden County Utilities Authority
Environmental Management System Manual
A PDF slide show by Andrew Kricun, PE Deputy Executive Director on emplimenting an Environmental Management System.
EMS Slide Show
Internal Audit Report Sept 5 2012
CCMUA 2011 Performance Report
CCMUA 2010 Performance Report
Internal Audit Report Nov 17 2011
Element 5 Worksheet R1 2011
External Audit Report Sept 9 2011
