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ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

  • 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 June 14- 18 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. Any interested parties should contact the CCMUA’s Deputy Executive Director, Andrew Kricun, at 856-583-1223 or andy@ccmua.org for more information.

    • [What about...] What is an Environmental Management System?

    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.

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    [What about...] What is the basis of the CCMUA's Environmental Management System?

    The CCMUA’s four most important priorities are:

    1.) Ooptimizing 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

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    [What about...] What have been the results of the CCMUA's implementation of as Environmental Management System?

    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

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    [What about...] What does the future hold?

    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.

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