Metro Honors 9 Businesses with Gold Award Status

On May 22, Metro Water Recovery hosted the 2024 Gold Awards Ceremony. The ceremony is held every year and honors companies that achieve 100 percent compliance of industrial pretreatment requirements. This year, nine companies were awarded gold recognition for their efforts in 2023.

Metro’s Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP) team members work alongside businesses who discharge to our connectors. The IPP team collects samples, reviews data and reports, evaluates compliance, and takes enforcement action where necessary (11 dischargers faced significant non-compliance in the 2023 period).

The ceremony was kicked off by Chief Executive Officer Mickey Conway who welcomed the recipients and recognized their hard work, “This is important work that is overlooked by communities. We want to honor you for all you do and make sure that your work is not overlooked.”

Metro’s Board Chair Andrew Johnston further praised the recipients by pointing out how significant earning a Gold Award is. Andrew states, “There’s a lot of businesses in the Front Range and a lot of them aren’t here today.” Adding, “with the work that you do, we are setting standards and making a difference!”

The guest speaker for the Award Ceremony was U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region VIII Pretreatment Coordinator, Al Garcia. Garcia addressed the attendees with a speech connecting adaptation and balance, sharing how the adaptation to regulations and balance of working with various entities does not go unnoticed.

Garcia also made note of his appreciation for Metro’s overall compliance efforts having visited the plant during Wastewater Worker Recognition Week last month. He states, “I saw Metro’s program, I talked to employees, and I feel confident in Metro’s compliance with regulations.”

Gold award winners ranged from first time recognized recipients to an impressive sixteenth-time recipient.