The Karl G. Voelkel Industry Award
The Karl G. Voelkel Industry Award is given to an industrial facility in the southwest section of the Ohio Water Environment Association for outstanding environmental achievement. The presentation of this award is in recognition of an industry's outstanding contribution in waste minimization, pollution prevention, environmental compliance and environmental stewardship. The purpose of the award is to provide a venue where southwest Ohio companies can be recognized for a job well done in improving the water environment in southwest Ohio.
This award is given in the name of Dr. Karl G. Voelkel, P.E., Ph.D., (see Karl's photo below) to honor his many years of dedicated service as a OWEA member and chairman of the SWOWEA Industrial Wastes Committee. Dr. Voelkel was one of the charter members of the committee that originated the annual January Industrial Wastes Seminar back in 1987. Karl was also the persevering force behind the SWOWEA Industry Award. It took him a long time to convince everyone that this award was a good idea. Finally in 2002, we gave our first award to Leonhardt Plating Company. In the photo of Karl below, he is holding that first award. Now retired after many years with LJB Inc. in Kettering, he is spending more time with his lovely wife Jean, plus visiting the children, and grandkids.
Rhodia Inc., of Cincinnati, in Hamilton County was the awarded the 2008 Karl G. Voelkel Award at the 19th Annual Industrial Pretreatment Seminar on January 17, 2008. Rhodia Inc. was nominated for the award by the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati, Division of Industrial Waste. The company, formerly known as Grace-Davidson, was honored for outstanding environmental achievement in pretreating multiple and variable process flows and wastestreams for pH compliance. The award was given by the SWOWEA Executive and Industrial Pretreatment committees.
The Award Criteria for Nominations
The award candidates must satisfy one or more of the seven criteria listed below, including:- Having in-place practices and procedures that have reduced raw material requirements for it's manufacturing operations and/or the volume of wastewater discharged to the environment.
- Having in-place practices and procedures that have reduced pollutant loadings to the environment.
- Having initiated improvements and/or programs to improve characteristics of the waste discharge even though the facility was previously in full compliance with the requirements of its discharge permit.
- Having demonstrated a "good corporate citizen" attitude through the existence of outreach programs designed to increase environmental awareness.
- Having worked in a positive, constructive way with local governmental and regulatory agencies.
- Having made available to other industries information pertaining to its successful use of alternative processes and procedures designed to enhance the environment.
- Having implemented programs with environmental compliance that have greatly exceeded their cost of implementation.
Nominations
Please submit your nomination to the SWOWEA Executive Committee and/or the Industrial Pretreatment Committee by September 30th. The nominated industry must be from one of the 19 counties that make up the southwest section. SWOWEA membership is not required for nomination, and anyone in the southwest section can nominate a company for this award. The award presentation will be during the Annual SWOWEA Industrial Pretreatment Seminar in January. The award may not be given every year.
^ topPrevious Award Winners
- 2008 - Rhodia Inc., Cincinnati
- 2007 - GE Engine Services, Fairfield
- 2006 - Cargill, Inc., Sidney
- 2005 - Honda of America Mfg., Inc., Marysville
- 2004 - Portion Pac Inc., Mason
- 2003 - Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America, Mason
- 2002 - Leonhardt Plating Company, Cincinnati
- 2007 - GE Engine Services, Fairfield