Using Environmental Management Systems to Lower Operating Costs and Improve Performance

Authors: Kricun, Andrew; Pedersen, Tom

Source: Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation, WEFTEC 2006: Session 31 through Session 40 , pp. 2429-2443(15)

Publisher: Water Environment Federation

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $17.50 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

The Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority (CCMUA) operates an 80 million gallon per day (MGD) pure oxygen activated sludge treatment plant located in Camden, NJ. It also operates a 100-mile sewer collection system and 25 pumping stations ranging from 1 MGD to 54 MGD in capacity.

The CCMUA has identified three fundamental goals that are critical to the success of its operation: <list list-type="order"> <list-item>

Optimization of Water Quality Performance</list-item> <list-item>

Optimization of Air Quality Performance</list-item> <list-item>

Cost Minimization</list-item> </list>

In order to meet these goals, the CCMUA implemented an Environmental Management System (EMS). The EMS was tremendously successful for the CCMUA. Specifically, the CCMUA was able to significantly reduce its operating costs and thereby has held its sewer service user rate for eleven consecutive years, with three rate cuts during that time frame.

Reductions in operating costs did not result in sacrificing the CCMUA's environmental goals. On the contrary, the CCMUA's water quality and odor control performance also improved greatly as a direct result of the greater efficiencies associated with implementing the EMS.

This paper will discuss the benefits of implementing an EMS and will outline the specific measures that the CCMUA took, through the EMS, to reduce its operating costs, and improve its environmental performance.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2175/193864706783750673

Publication date: 2006-01-01

More about this publication?

Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation is an archive of papers published in the proceedings of the annual Water Environment Federation® Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC® ) and specialty conferences held since the year 2000. These proceedings are not peer reviewed.

WEF Members: Sign in (right panel) with your IngentaConnect user name and password to receive complimentary access.
Subscribe to this Title
Membership Information
About WEF Proceedings
WEFTEC Conference Information
ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Using Environmental Management Systems to Lower Operating Costs and Improve Performance

Buy & download fulltext article:

Tools

Key

Text size:

Useful pages