Hello Wastewater Professionals,
Last month, the Western Pennsylvania Water Pollution Control Association held the annual family picnic at Idlewild and Soak Zone Amusement Park located near Ligonier PA. Plenty of good food was enjoyed by all at the WPWPCA pavilion. It was just a perfect day for the Soak Zone, just a great summer day that had lots of sunshine and temperature near 90 degrees.
Also, in August the Western Pennsylvania Water Pollution Control Association Golf Outing was held at the Pheasant Ridge Golf Club in Gibsonia PA. The turnout was great and the course was tough. The morning kicked off with registration, coffee and donuts then a putting contest with many prizes. The shotgun start launched all foursomes off the tee at 9:00AM and a great lunch was served after the round.
On September 18, the WPWPCA held its next to last 2026 Plant Tour hosted by the Clairton Municipal Authority at 1 N. State St., Clairton, PA. The Clairton Municipal Authority completed a plant expansion in the fall of 2025 through two phases. Phase I included a new influent pump station and headworks, dewatering facility, and digester, with construction completed in 2019. Phase II included the MBR process and wet-weather storage and treatment facilities; construction began in August 2022 and was completed in October 2025. The project increased the plant’s average capacity from 6 MGD, with a 10 MGD peak, to 10.83 MGD average flow and a 38.23 MGD peak. A delicious lunch was served nearby at the Creekside Tavern. After lunch and with a full house, the general membership meeting was conducted followed by door prize giveaways. A special thanks to the Clairton Municipal Authority for hosting this September WPWPCA plant tour.
Upcoming in October is the WPWPCA Fall Sporting Clays Shoot. WPWPCA's Scholarship Fundraiser Event: Fall Sporting Clays Shoot Location: Lawrence County Sportsman Association, 3380 Mill Street, Wampum, PA 16157
Schedule:
7:45 AM to 8:45 AM - Registration & Breakfast (Coffee & Donuts) in Pro Shop
8:45 AM - Welcome and Safety
9:00 AM - Take Flight on Clays Course
12:00 PM - Lunch Served & Awards
$125 Per Person: Includes cart, lunch, and prizes. Four-man team registration OR Individuals registering will be placed on a team. For more information or questions, contact Nicole Holland (nholland@v-syst.com).
On October 9th the WPWPCA is offering Process Control Strategies and Typical Operational Parameters (Activated Sludge) Training (DEP Course #1435). The primary purpose of this course is to provide an overview of activated sludge process control strategies; typical operational problems encountered during the process and the microbiology of the activated sludge process. Visit https://wpwpca.org for more information.
On October 16th, the WPWPCA will hold its Plant Tour and Awards Luncheon hosted by the Township of Hampton - Allison Park Water Pollution Control Plant. The Township of Hampton completed expansion of the Allison Park WPCP in late-2025. Phase I generally included construction of the main pump station, headworks, sequencing batch reactors and UV disinfection; with all sequencing dictated by the need for the existing plant to remain in operation. Phase 2 was initiated once the new processes were online, allowing for demolition or modification of all existing structures and construction of aerobic digesters, dewatering facilities, office / garage building and storage structure. The project expanded the original plant capacity from 3.2 MGD and a peak of 10 MGD, to current capacity of 3.9 MGD with the ability to handle peak flows up to 20.6 MGD.
Join WPWPCA today! New member registration and membership renewal are available online. To join, go to wpwpca.org, click MENU, and select Join Now – Online Application. Complete the registration form. To renew your 2026 WPWPCA membership, please visit https://wpwpca.org, click MENU, select Members Only, and choose Renew My Dues.
To our exhibitors and sponsors, thank you for your continued support of the Western Pennsylvania Water Pollution Control Association.
Together, let us continue to lead with purpose, grow our membership, and make a lasting impact on the future of water quality in Western Pennsylvania.
Enjoy the Fall Season,
Scott Hinsch
President, Western Pennsylvania Water Pollution Control Association (2025–2026)
VP Engineering and Sales, DRV Inc.
