American Water Boasts Two Green Achievements

By Jessica Fiur, News Editor

Voorhees, N.J.—Great environmental strides forward have recently taken place in the fields of wastewater management and solar power. American Water, a water and wastewater utility company, has earned two Business Achievement Awards from the Environmental Business Journal (EBJ) and Climate Change Business Journal (CCBJ) for their efforts in both fields, respectively.

American Water was recognized by EBJ for it’s “Optimized Nutrient Removal from Wastewater,” or NPXpress, patent. This technology helps reduce costs for wastewater utilities while also removing nitrogen and phosphorus from the water. Electricity consumption for aeration is reduced by 50 percent because the technology operates at lower oxygen levels. Ultimately, this provides a more affordable and sustainable way of treating sewage.

“We are honored to receive this important recognition from the Environmental Business Journal for our wastewater treatment patent,” Mark LeChevallier, director of innovation and environmental stewardship for American Water, tells MHN. “The water industry is facing a number of challenges, and we are glad to contribute this technology to enhance the effectiveness of wastewater treatment.”

CCBJ awarded American Water an honor for installing solar modules on a reservoir at the company’s Canoe Brook Water Treatment Plant in Millburn, N.J.  This program was the first solar array on the East Coast on a body of water designed to withstand a freeze/thaw environment. The array generated 112 kilowatts of DC power, which will be converted to AC power. Over the course of a year, 135,000 kilowatt hours will be produced, which equals two percent of the plants power.

“Sustainability and solar power will continue to be an emphasis for us as we continue to look for ways to control costs and be a good environmental steward,” Suzanne Chiavari, vice president of engineering at New Jersey American Water says in a press statement.