Jerry Patrick started working for French Paper in February 2021, where he assumed the duties of a paper mill wastewater treatment plant operator and industrial storm water operator.

The paper mill had a history of copper exceedances, a struggling treatment system, and poor housekeeping. He quickly got up to speed with the needs of the facility in time for a joint NPDES and Industrial Storm Water inspection in February 2022. This inspection found notable housekeeping and operational violations that were the result of years of neglect.

Jerry stepped up to the plate and put the time and work to prioritize compliance. During follow-up inspections, Jerry was eager to share with EGLE staff the progress he had made.

By September 2022, the President of French Paper (who attended the most recent inspection) exclaimed, “This is the cleanest that French Paper has looked in over 20 years!” Due to Jerry’s dedication and determination, French Paper has returned to compliance.

Majid Khan is the Director of Operations at the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) located in Detroit at the confluence of the Rouge River into the Detroit River. The GLWA WRRF is the largest single-site treatment facility in North America, serving 2.9 million people and treating up to 970 MGD through full secondary treatment, and up to 1,700 MGD through primary treatment during wet weather.

Majid is a very skilled and accomplished wastewater professional. One significant achievement is overseeing the construction and start-up of the River Rouge Outfall (RRO) project, which provides disinfection of all wet weather discharge from the WRRF. Prior to the RRO facilities being online in April 2019, between 3 to 15 million gallons of excess wet weather flow was discharged annually without disinfection. The RRO project provides a sustainable and cost-effective means for management of excess wet weather flows, reduces fecal concentrations to the receiving waters, and protects public health and the environment.

Additionally, Majid and his team have been instrumental in helping the state to meet its goal to reduce phosphorus loading by 40% to the West Lake Erie Basin by 2025. By optimizing ferric chloride dosage at the WRRF, the GLWA WRRF achieved the state’s goal for phosphorus reduction by 2019, while maintaining compliance with the NPDES permit’s phosphorus limits.

In addition to being recognized as a regional wastewater operations leader, Majid is the co-chair of the steering committee for Michigan Cleaner Lake Erie through Action and Research (MI CLEAR). While he has headed operations at the WRRF, the facility has consistently achieved compliance with its NPDES permit, resulting in termination of an Administrative Consent Order. Through Majid’s hard work and dedication, he has demonstrated leadership and expertise in the field of wastewater operations.

Josh Teeter is the wastewater treatment plant superintendent at Galien River Sanitary District in New Buffalo.

He is an eager learner who is always identifying creative ways to maintain compliance and efficiency. Josh shows great pride in his plant and enjoys giving tours to anybody who is interested in learning more about the plant and its operations. Galien River Sanitary District has a work environment that promotes quality of work and leadership by example.

Josh exhibits the traits of the best of the wastewater operators in Michigan such as transparency, integrity, and ingenuity. 

Elizabeth McLeod is relatively new to the wastewater industry and has been working her way up for the last few years. She successfully completed pre-requisite courses and subsequently passed exams for the A-1f, A-2b, and C-3b industrial wastewater certifications. Additionally, she holds municipal wastewater certification in L2, L1 lagoon systems.

Elizabeth is learning the ropes of being a new operator and is very enthusiastic and willing to learn. Elizabeth is now the Director of Clam Union Utilities (Ebel’s General Store) in Falmouth, MI, and has a keen interest in lab work and biology. 

I would like to recognize Elizabeth for her work as a wastewater operator and hope that learning about her story will encourage others to join or have interest in the industry.