Chris Higgins Boothbay Harbor Sewer District Superintendent Chris Higgins displays the award he received from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection last week as the wastewater plant Operator of the Year. (Photo Barbara Freeman)

On Thursday, September 21, Higgins was presented with the award during the Maine DEP's wastewater convention at Sugarloaf.

The new wastewater treatment plant on Sea Street in Boothbay Harbor went on line in March of 1995. Higgins was hired five months later, in August, 1995, and has implemented and overseen many projects and improvements. The wording of the Certificate of Achievement signed by Martha G. Kirkpatrick, Commissioner of Maine DEP, provides a glimpse into Higgins' background and the work he and his staff have done at the plant. It reads as follows:

"The Department of Environmental Protection recognizes Chris Higgins for his outstanding work at the Boothbay Harbor wastewater treatment facility. Chris is a graduate of U of M Farmington with a degree in biology and holds a Grade V operator certificate. "Before coming to Boothbay Harbor, he worked at the Great Northern Paper Company's wastewater treatment facility and at the Town of Millinocket's wastewater treatment lagoon system as an operator. "In 1995 he became the Superintendent of the Boothbay Harbor Sewer District and became involved in the start-up of the new and very complex dual Sequencing Bath Reactor (SBR) system there.

"As in the start-up of many new treatment systems, there were operational and even effluent compliance problems to resolve at Boothbay Harbor. Through extra process control testing and creative problem solving, Chris conducted many trials that resulted in achieving process stability and compliance at this facility. He has since successfully maximized its performance. [The plant now has a 100 percent compliance rate with all applicable laws and regulations].

"Chris has also developed an effective training program for his staff at Boothbay Harbor. He is very knowledgeable in many other areas of wastewater treatment technology as well and is often called upon by other operators for information and advice.

"Chris is also a leader in introducing the use of computers in running wastewater treatment facilities more effectively.

"The Department of Environmental Protection commends Mr. Higgins for his extra efforts and creativity in resolving the problems at the Boothbay Harbor wastewater treatment plant, for his contribution to wastewater treatment operation in general, and for his efforts in protecting the water quality of the State of Maine."

An Award for All

Although he was the official recipient of the award, Higgins feels everyone at the plant deserves kudos for the improvements and achievements at the facility.

"It's everybody," he says, "but somebody had to get it."

Higgins wasn't told about the award in advance, but on Tuesday someone from the state called and requested that the district send a representative to the luncheon and awards ceremony. Higgins drove to Sugarloaf and stayed just long enough to attend the event and receive the award, and then returned to work. Michael Barden from the state's Division of Engineering and Technical Assistance for Pollution Prevention presented the certificate, which is mounted under glass on a wooden plaque

National Honors

Another wooden plaque on view in the sewer district office notes that in both 1998 and 1999 the plant won the national award for Outstanding Aqua Sequencing Batch Reactor Plant Performance. Aqua-Aerobic Systems, Inc., the manufacturer of the plant, gives out the annual award to only one out of the thousands of SBR systems in the country. In 1998 those honored were Higgins as superintendent; C. Foster Stroup, lab technician; and Marc Brewer, mechanic. In 1999 (when Stroup no longer worked at the facility), the award went to Higgins, Brewer, and operator Gary Farnham. More Praise

"I think the district is very fortunate to have somebody as dedicated, professional, and knowledgeable as Chris," said sewer district trustee Jon Marsh. "He has foresight. He also brought an air of cooperation with the water system and the town and gets along with them all. We're lucky to have him." Marsh continued, "He has to deal with all these government agencies and the DEP on a regular basis, and he doesn't miss a beat. He can talk with the best of them; he knows his stuff. The previous board did a real good job when they hired him."