DEM APPLAUDS FIRST-PLACE FINISH OF RHODE ISLAND WASTEWATER OPERATORS IN REGIONAL "OPERATOR CHALLENGE" COMPETITION

RIDEM graphical banner, showing land and water scene

Home > News > News Item

News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462

For Release:	June 6, 2008
Contact:	Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402 Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM APPLAUDS FIRST-PLACE FINISH OF RHODE ISLAND WASTEWATER OPERATORS IN REGIONAL "OPERATOR CHALLENGE" COMPETITION
Local Team's Skills and Hard Training for Wastewater-Treatment Proficiency Contests Beats Out Other New England Teams

PROVIDENCE - Five Rhode Island wastewater treatment operators this week won a prestigious contest of wits, strength, speed and endurance designed to test the knowledge and skills needed for wastewater collection and treatment. The victory ranks them the best in New England, and has given them a berth in an upcoming national competition this fall in San Diego. This will be the second consecutive year that the team has made the national competition.

The team, known for its to-the-point name "Fecal Matters," includes Peter Eldridge, Robert Sheridan, Donald Shurtleff and Brian Lavallee of the West Warwick facility, and Scott Goodinson of Veolia Water North America, the contract operator of the Cranston Water Pollution Control Facility.

"These wastewater treatment professionals and their supporters have shown that with hard work, dedication and faith in their abilities, success is not only possible, but inevitable," said DEM Director W. Michael Sullivan, Ph.D. "These five men not only won personal victories, but they also brought some much-needed praise and attention to the wastewater treatment profession and the important role it plays in protecting the health of Rhode Islanders and quality of our state's waters."

Both the regional and national competitions include proficiency testing in water purification process-control strategies, laboratory skills, a fast-paced safety rescue simulation, emergency repairs of a complex pump, and a high-speed sewer-line repair. The challenge events blend the physical and mental skills used daily by wastewater treatment professionals. In Tuesday's regional competition, the Rhode Island team came in third in two events and first in three, ranking them first overall. The event was held in Hyannis, Massachusetts as part of an annual wastewater industry meeting. In October, 2007 the "Fecal Matters" team came in third overall in New England and second nationwide in the national collection-system event.

The Rhode Island operator professionals group, The Narragansett Water Pollution Control Association, sponsored the team, with help from local private and public wastewater-treatment organizations. DEM also assisted in training of the five member team. In recent years the Narragansett Water Pollution Control Association has expanded its membership and its abilities to train and build the Rhode Island wastewater operator profession. (Contact information for the Narragansett Water Pollution Control Association is Ms. Janine Burke, the Executive Director of the Warwick Sewer Authority. Director Burke can be reached at 738-0354.)

-30-

* Note: An electronic photo of the team with their trophies is available; please call Gail Mastrati at 222-4700 ext. 2402 if you would like a copy emailed to you.

For General Information 222-6800 • After Hours Emergencies 222-3070 • Disclaimer