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Water Environment
Services (WES) has been awarded with the prestigious 2019 National
Environment Achievement Award from the National Association of Clean Water
Agencies (NACWA) for its “Keep the Wipes Out!” educational campaign, which
is designed to protect sewer infrastructure, water quality and watershed
health.
The award, given
in the Civic Education and Public Information category, was presented to
WES Director Greg Geist at ACWA’s Winter Conference in Albuquerque, N.M. on
Feb. 6.
The campaign was designed
to raise awareness of damages caused by so-called “flushable” baby wipes
that are flushed down toilets. Unlike toilet paper, the wipes do not
disintegrate in water despite being marketed as “flushable,” and become
entangled in sewer equipment, causing tens of thousands of dollars in
damages each year.
Many of the wipes
release microplastics that are not removed by the wastewater treatment
process, which can be harmful to fish and other aquatic life. The
campaign’s main goals included:
·
Protecting
water quality within the WES service area for public and environmental
health.
·
Educating
community about behaviors that impact watershed health, water quality and
sustainable infrastructure.
·
Upgrading
working conditions of WES staff by reducing health risks due to
hand-removal of wipe-caused clogs from pumps.
·
Promoting
intergovernmental cooperation and coordination in addressing shared
problems.
The campaign
inspired the collaboration of local and national partners in an effort to
educate the public, especially new parents, about sewage backups caused by
the wipes and other clog-inducing products flushed down the toilet.
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