Water and wastewater professionals honored at awards ceremony

The 2015 Water and Wastewater Professionals Annual Awards Ceremony was held May 14 at Delaware Tech Owens Campus. Frederica Water Department’s Dustan Russum, of Harrington, was named the 2014 Water Professional of the Year. Allen Harim Harbeson Wastewater Plant’s Jeffrey Bailey, of Georgetown, was named the 2014 Wastewater Professional of the Year. WWES Associates owner Brian C. Carbaugh was named On-Site Professional of the Year.

Also, the Allen J. Williams Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to David Austin, of Frederica, owner of Delaware Log Homes Inc. and W. David Harrington, of Bear, T&D project coordinator of Artesian Resources.

The awards are presented annually to water operators, wastewater operators and on-site professionals who have demonstrated outstanding technical excellence and an exemplary work ethic while contributing to the high level of water quality in Delaware. Russum is currently the public works water operator for the Frederica Water Department. He was honored for bringing the water system into EPA compliance, for installing the town’s fluoride system, and for fixing a well that will improve fire protection and water service for the east side of town. Russum also saved the town millions of dollars by utilizing old parts and borrowing others to fix systems and using his knowledge to rebuild chemical pumps. Due to Russum’s efforts the Town of Frederica was named best-tasting drinking water in the state in 2014.

Bailey is currently assistant wastewater supervisor at the Allen Harim Harbeson Wastewater Plant and also has duties at the Dagsboro spray irrigation wastewater facility. During his tenure the Harbeson facility has gone two consecutive years without a violation, and the Dagsboro facility has never violated its state of Delaware spray irrigation permit. Bailey was also praised for his constant innovative approach to all aspects of his job, including maintenance, a plant checklist, water conservation and stormwater management that helps things run smoothly and saves valuable time, resources, and money. Bailey is currently in the process of becoming a certified water treatment operator.

Carbaugh, a licensed professional engineer, took the lead role in the most recent revision of the on-site regulations, and has always been involved in the on-site regulatory amendments. He works on projects ranging from single-family homes, to community projects, to large municipal projects. He became a pioneer for the use of rapid infiltration basin technology and was the lead engineer for Artesian Water Recycling Partnership’s Middletown Reclamation Project. Carbaugh is a founding member of the Delaware On-Site Wastewater Recycling Association where he currently serves as vice president.

In addition, the City of New Castle Water Department team of Jay Guyer, Ryan Jaeger, Greg Spiess, Tom Brewster, and Barry Granger was honored with the Water/Wastewater Professionals Team Award.

Other nominees included: Water Operator of the Year - Lawrence Blaser of Artesian Resources, Eugene Helmick of City of Milford, Mike Johnson of City of Newark, James Scott Kimball of Town of Bridgeville, Albert Miller of Tidewater Utilities Inc., and Brandon Slater of Town of Blades; Wastewater Operator of the Year - Dean R. Conaway of INVISTA of Seaford, Darrale Gardner of NRG Indian River Generating Station, Douglas McClure of Artesian Resources, and Berley A. Mears III of City of Seaford; On-Site Professional of the Year - Scott Eicholz of DNREC, Groundwater Discharges Section; Water/Wastewater Professionals Team Award - Artesian Resources members Berry Shenk, Sean Bowden, Stephan Poore, and Keith Campbell.

The guest speaker for the ceremony was James Price, chief of the environmental services division for the City of Baltimore, Department of Public Works.

The Operator of the Year Ceremony is sponsored by Delaware Technical Community College; the Delaware Rural Water Association; Division of Public Health, Office of Drinking Water; Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control, Division of Water Resources; Delaware On-Site Wastewater Recycling Association and the Water and Wastewater Operators Association, Eastern Shore Chapter.