Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory sewer monitoring team wins award

LIVERMORE, Ca. – The California Water Environment Association’s Pretreatment, Pollution Prevention and Stormwater (P3S) committee has presented its "Facility of the Year" award to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL) Sewer Monitoring Team in the LLNL Environmental Protection Department. The team operates the Laboratory’s sewer monitoring complex, which monitors and controls sewage effluent from both LLNL and Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore.

The Lab team was nominated for the award by the city of Livermore’s Water Resources Division. The award recognizes facilities or processes that exemplify excellence throughout the state.

"The city’s Water Resources Division nominated the Laboratory team for the CWEA Facility of the Year Award in appreciation for its dedication to sewer monitoring and the maintenance of its extensive monitoring network facilities," said Lynna Grijalva, source control coordinator for the city of Livermore. "The WRD recognizes and values the team’s efforts. The team plays a vital role in protecting the Livermore Water Reclamation Plant and the community."

The award was presented Feb. 25 at the annual P3S Conference in Long Beach. LLNL sewer monitoring team members include Allen Grayson, Henry Jones, Bob Williams, Karl Brunckhorst, Crystal Foster, Jennifer Montgomery, Duane Rueppel and Priya Basu.

"I congratulate the team on this singular honor," said Allen Macenski, head of LLNL’s Environment, Safety, Health & Quality organization. "It’s a reflection of both the excellent work of our dedicated team members and the strong relationship the Lab enjoys with the City of Livermore. It’s another example of the Lab striving to be the best possible neighbor it can be."

"The Sewer Monitoring Team does an outstanding job of protecting the environment through its dedication and diligence," said Susi Jackson, head of the LLNL Environmental Protection Department. "Their commitment and responsiveness at all hours of the day exemplifies the environmental stewardship undertaken at the Laboratory."

The Laboratory’s sophisticated sewer monitoring complex incorporates online, real-time, automated monitoring of sewage outflow from the LLNL and Sandia national laboratories. It monitors for radionuclides, metals, flow and pH levels, with the ability to divert flow to holding tanks if constituents of concern in the effluent rise above pre-set levels. Were something to get past the monitoring system and into the city’s sewage system before it could be diverted to Lab holding tanks, the Lab would alert the city so it could divert the flow when it reaches the city’s Water Reclamation Plant.

"We are proud of our aggressive monitoring system, and our local municipal partner appreciates our pollution prevention and control measures," said Allen Grayson.

Founded in 1952, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has a mission to ensure national security and to apply science and technology to the important issues of our time. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is managed by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (LLNS) for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.