Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Environmental Resources Training Center (ERTC) is a finalist for the 2014 Illinois Governor’s Sustainability Award. The winner will be announced Thursday, October 23, at the Chicago Hyatt Regency. Industry partners, local media and local government leaders are invited to attend the award ceremony in honor of the ERTC.
“The staff and I are proud to have ERTC recognized by the Governor’s office,” said Paul Shetley, ERTC director. “ERTC has a 35-year history of training water treatment operators in the protection and re-use of water, which is essential to the health of the residents of our communities and sustainability of our natural ecosystems.”
The Governor’s Award is given to companies and organizations that implement techniques or technologies that reduce or eliminate pollutants, toxicity and other environmental impacts, including the amount of and/or toxicity of pollutants that would have otherwise been released into the environment.
Sustainability includes processes such as raw material and solvent substitution, preventive maintenance programs, beneficial reuse of by-products, waste reduction and recycling, employee engagement efforts and comprehensive environmental management systems or governing policies.
ERTC was designated by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) as the Illinois center for the continuing education of personnel involved in the operation, maintenance and management of drinking water and wastewater treatment systems. Additionally the ERTC is designated to train Illinois licensed plumbers and Illinois certified water operators to become IEPA certified cross-connection control device inspectors.