
Development and implementation of an integrated county environmental department ISO 14001 environmental management system
Courtesy of Water Environment Federation (WEF)
The Yonkers Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant, located in Yonkers, New York and operated by the Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities, became the first wastewater treatment plant in New York State to be certified to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System Standard. The Standard is designed around the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle of continual environmental improvement. The certification of the plant is part of an overall effort for eventual certification of the entire Department of Environmental Facilities organization, encompassing multiple wastewater treatment plants, solid waste facilities, and two water supply districts. During implementation of the Environmental Management System at the Yonkers facility several critical Best Management Practices were implemented, including communication tools, an electronic operations and maintenance (O&M) manual, integrated standard operating procedures, and an environmental work order process. Lessons learned during the design and
implementation of the system for the Yonkers facility will be transferred to the remaining facilities as the implementation of the Environmental Management System continues at the remaining facilities.
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