The Springfield Water and Sewer Commission is proud to announce that Mr. Peter Thayer, a Water Operator based at the Commission’s West Parish Filters Water Treatment Facility in Westfield, was named Distinguished Water Operator of the Year by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
The award was presented as part of DEP’s 2018 Public Water Systems Award Program held on May 8 at the Massachusetts Statehouse. Water operators are responsible for the safe and efficient operation of drinking water treatment facilities such as West Parish Filters, which provides filtration and disinfection of the drinking water delivered to Commission customers. Mr. Thayer was commended for his innovative approach to problem-solving, his excellence in meeting state and federal drinking water regulations, as well as his seasoned insight into project design and review at the treatment facility, which produces approximately 30 million gallons/day of high-quality drinking water for 250,000 customers in the lower Pioneer Valley.
Mr. Thayer has worked with the Commission as an operator since 2014.
The Public Water Systems Award Program event held on May 8 was hosted by Rep. Anne Gobi and Rep. Smitty Pignatelli, and speakers included EPA Region 1 Administrator Alexandra Dunn and MassDEP Commissioner Marty Suuberg.
