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City of Groton, Conn. Utilities Water Division General Manager and Water Pollution Control Authority Chief Plant Operator  Recognized for Outstanding Service

Release Date: 01/23/2012
Contact Information: David Deegan, 617-918-1017

(Boston—January 23, 2012)  Richard Stevens, City of Groton Utilities’ Water Division General Manager, and Kevin Cini, Chief Plant Operator of the City of Groton Utilities Wastewater Treatment Plant, are being honored with "2011 Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Excellence Awards" by EPA.   

The EPA Regional Wastewater Awards Program recognizes municipal personnel in the wastewater field who have provided invaluable public service managing and operating wastewater treatment facilities throughout New England.   The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection was  instrumental in Mr. Stevens’ and Mr. Cini’s nominations.  

Mr. Stevens has been the General Manager of the Water Division of Groton Utilities, which oversees both the drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities, along with the water distribution and wastewater collection systems, since 2000.  Rick had been the chief plant operator and lab director for the drinking water treatment plant for nearly 20 years before then and has been with Groton Utilities for almost 35 years.  This past June, the City of Groton Utilities Water Division, led by Rick, hosted a highly successful two day water security conference and field exercise for the benefit of nearby utilities, state and federal personnel.   Rick has done an outstanding job and is well regarded by his peers and state/federal counterparts.

Mr. Cini has been the Chief Plant Operator since 2004 and has been an operator at the wastewater treatment plant since 1983.  He has done an outstanding job over the years.   Kevin is the current Connecticut State Director for the New England Water Environment Association (NEWEA) and has volunteered his time to serve on numerous NEWEA committees and endeavors.  Kevin is also extremely well regarded by his peers and by his state and federal counterparts.  In addition, the City of Groton Wastewater Treatment Plant (Kevin and his entire plant staff) was a past recipient of a 2007 National EPA Wastewater Operations and Maintenance Excellence Award. 

“The professionals operating these wastewater treatment plants, as well as the municipalities and the state environmental agencies that support them, are essential to keeping our environment healthy by protecting water quality.  They are devoted, often underappreciated, and demonstrate a high level of commitment under extreme situations.  I am proud to acknowledge Mr. Stevens’ and Mr. Cini’s outstanding contributions to help protect public health and water quality for so many years and to give them the credit they deserve,” said Curt Spaulding, regional administrator of EPA's New England Office.                                                                                          

EPA’s New England office will formally acknowledge Mr. Stevens’ and Mr. Cini’s outstanding contributions during the annual New England Water Environment Association Conference at the Boston Copley Marriott Hotel on January 25th.  

For more information: https://www.epa.gov/ne/topics/water/wwater.html and

https://www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/intnet.htm

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