Fairbury Sewer Superintendent Brad Duncan named Operator of the Year

Fairbury Sewer Superintendent Brad Duncan poses with his Operator of the Year award following Wednesday's Fairbury City Council meeting at City Hall.
Fairbury Sewer Superintendent Brad Duncan poses with his Operator of the Year award following Wednesday's Fairbury City Council meeting at City Hall.

FAIRBURY — Fairbury’s sewer superintendent has received the Operator of the Year award from the Illinois Association of Water Pollution Control Operators.

Brad Duncan was honored during the IAWPCO conference last month in Springfield, which brings together wastewater treatment professionals to exchange ideas and exhibit the latest equipment and technologies.

“They nominate you based on compliance record not only with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency but the federal Environmental Protection Agency as well,” Duncan explained.

Factors included the ability of Fairbury’s sewer plant to process sludge and the work done throughout the city maintaining the sewer system. Duncan helped with the design phase and oversaw construction of the new Fairbury treatment plant and collection system upgrade. The project has been completed and the new system is up and running.

Plant of the year awards were presented to the Urbana & Champaign Sanitary District, City of Charleston, SIU at Edwardsville and Sesser WWTP. Industrial Plant of the Year went to Cabot Corporation in Tuscola. Other nominees in Duncan’s category for Operator of the Year included Don Davis of Carmi and Penny (Pinkstaff) Zimmerman of Lebanon.

The IAWPCO also provides regional, one-day conferences in four selected areas within the state each fall. Members of the organization are provided with quarterly newsletters each year containing up-to-date articles and advertising.

Duncan’s trophy is a traveling award and is currently displayed at Fairbury City Hall.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Fairbury Sewer Superintendent Brad Duncan named Operator of the Year