HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- PPG Aerospace has received a 2004 Excellence in Industrial Treatment Award from Alabama's Water Environment Association (AWEA) for exemplary wastewater treatment at its Huntsville facility. PPG, which produces aircraft and specialty windows at the plant, was honored as Category II winner for physical and chemical treatment.
PPG's Mark Hoffpauir, environment, health and safety supervisor at the local plant, accepted the award from AWEA's Ed Becker, awards chairman, at the awards banquet during the association's annual technical conference at the Perdido Beach Resort Hotel in Orange Beach, Ala.
AWEA selects annual award winners from Alabama companies with perfect or near-perfect regulatory records nominated by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. Nominees complete questionnaires and undergo site review. Winners are chosen in up to four categories: physical treatment, physical and chemical treatment, physical and biological treatment, and advanced treatment.
In presenting the award to Hoffpauir, Becker described PPG's wastewater treatment as "impressive," noting its waste minimization program that includes water reuse, secondary containment facilities, automatic pH controls, and intensive safety and training efforts.
According to Mike Morgan, PPG Huntsville plant manager, the company strives to achieve excellence in its environment, health and safety efforts throughout its operations worldwide.
"We are proud to receive this award from Alabama's Water Environment Association because we share a commitment to protect our water supplies," Morgan said. "Our goal is to operate in a manner that not only assures regulatory compliance but where possible surpasses it. Receiving this honor is a testament to the success of our efforts here at Huntsville. You can be assured that we will continue to maintain the high standards we have demonstrated."
PPG generates nearly 70,000 gallons of wastewater daily from glass and acrylic cutting, coating and finishing operations to produce aircraft and specialty windows at the local plant. Before discharge to the Huntsville sewer system, wastewater is treated with polymers and pH adjusted to remove nonhazardous metals as sludge. The de-watered sludge is sent for disposal.
AWEA is an affiliate of the Water Environment Federation, a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with members from varied disciplines who work toward preservation and enhancement of the global water environment. The WEF network includes more than 100,000 water quality professionals from 79 member associations in 31 countries.
PPG Aerospace is the aerospace transparencies, coatings and sealants business of PPG Industries. It is the world's largest supplier of aircraft windshields and windows, produced at Huntsville and by PPG Aerospace, Ampaspace, a PPG Industries subsidiary, at Casaletto Vaprio, Italy, near Milan.
In addition to its aerospace products and services business, Pittsburgh-based PPG Industries is a global supplier of glass, coatings, fiber glass and chemicals, with more than 100 manufacturing facilities and equity affiliates in more than 20 countries. Sales in 2004 were $9.5 billion.
