Green recognition... ►► ALCOSAN was awarded the Gold LEED Certified Building award in 2011 for its newly constructed Customer Service and Training Building. Additional construction is underway, and the new buildings will also follow green design standards. What is Green ►► ALCOSAN’s 2010 Open House obtained a Gold level certification by Zero Waste Pittsburgh’s ZIP waste certification program. Efforts to reduce the waste footprint of future events will continue. about ALCOSAN Green partners... ►► ALCOSAN is a founding member and active participant in the Southwestern Pennsylvania Household Hazardous Waste Taskforce. The taskforce coordinates and implements household hazardous waste collections. ►► ALCOSAN is a member of various watershed groups. ►► ALCOSAN is a member of the Rain Garden Alliance. ►► ALCOSAN is a member of the Pennsylvania Water Environment Association. ►► ALCOSAN is a member of the Water Environment Federation. ? Allegheny County Sanitary Authority 3300 Preble Avenue Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15233 (412) 766-4810 www.alcosan.org Environmental Excellence Beyond Clean Water We Operate Green ►► Our incineration with energy recovery process generates 24,000 lbs/hr of steam which is used to heat a majority of our 56-acre treatment facility. In addition to energy efficiency, this process produces a significant cost savings. ►► We use an average of 5 million gallons per day of our final effluent (treated water before discharge) as a water source for various operations including exhaust scrubbing, cooling water and equipment cleaning. The use of this resource eliminates the need to use City water, and again contributes to cost savings. ►► We switched from liquid chlorine to a less hazardous sodium hypochlorite solution as part of our final stage of wastewater treatment. ►► Our secondary biological removal process contains billions of microorganisms- no chemicals! ►► ALCOSAN maintains several beneficial use permits from state regulatory agencies to recycle its limed stabilized biosolids called ALCOSOIL and its incinerator ash. ►► We day-light streams and restore natural habitats. Day-lighting involves removing streams from sewer lines and redirecting them back to their natural course as much as possible. Completed habitat restoration- Jacks Run Wildlife There is a variety of wildlife on our 56-acre plant site including deer, hawks, ospreys, rabbits, ducks, geese and more! We Think Green We Promote Green ►► We host an annual Open House that is free and open to the public. This award-winning event is the region’s largest watershed and environmental festival. Our annual event features tours of the treatment plant and laboratory, microbiology and watershed life presentations, hands-on environmental activities and exhibits for all ages. ►► Our Watershed Education Program provides students with a basic knowledge of watersheds including watershed biology, function and practices for preserving watershed health. ►► Our Scholastic Outreach Program provides environmental awareness for students, teachers and communities. Developed to meet Pennsylvania’s Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology, the program stresses a hands-on approach to environmental science that teaches kids to be responsible stewards of their environment. ►► Our Storm Drain Stenciling Program is designed to educate the public about the potential for storm drain contamination, the pollution of local waterways and not to use storm drains as garbage cans. ►► We host and advertise webinars, seminars, and training sessions to help educate our 83 Customer Municipalities and local businesses about stormwater management and environmentally friendly process controls. ►► Our Summer Science Program offers students in grades 5 through 9 exciting courses, hands-on activities, and field trips related to the sciences of wastewater treatment and engineering. Each session is designed using Pennsylvania standards for Environment & Ecology as well as Science & Technology and Engineering Education. ►► ALCOSAN began beneficial reuse of its wastewater treatment residuals in 1991 with the creation of its limed stabilized biosolids called ALCOSOIL. Our lime stabilization process produces approximately 25,000 to 30,000 dry tons of ALCOSOIL each year of which 35% is applied to reclaim damaged land or as a soil amendment on farmland. ►► For our Open House event, we switched to recycled and recyclable products. Waste is then collected and turned into compost. In 2010, our Open House event was awarded a Gold Award for “Zero Waste Efforts”. ►► Our operations employees use bicycles to cover our 56 acre plant whenever weather permits. This activity is both operationally efficient, environmentally-friendly and promotes physical exercise. ►► We are replacing our older, high mileage vehicles in our vehicle fleet with hybrid vehicles. We Recycle... • Paper • Cardboard • Light bulbs • Metal • Computers • Wood and • Cell phones more! • Phone books ►► Our employees participate in an annual litter collection campaign that enhances the appearance of our roadways and hillsides, and prevents litter from entering storm drains and waterways. ►► We are upgrading older light fixtures throughout the plant with efficient fluorescent or LED type units. In addition, timer and motion sensors have been installed in less frequented areas.