Albion chief water plant operator to be honored by Public Works Association

Photo by Tom Rivers: Adam Rush, chief operator of the Albion water plant since 2019, is being recognized by the American Public Works Association for leading improvements at the water plant.

ALBION – The chief operator of the village’s water treatment plant will be recognized by the local chapter of the American Public Works Association.

Adam Rush is receiving the Charles Walter Nichols Award for environmental excellence. It will be presented Jan. 26 during the annual awards banquet for the Genesee Valley chapter of the American Public Works Association.

Rush started working at the village water plant in 2015. He was named provisional chief operator in 2019, with the appointment becoming permanent in October 2020. The water plant treats an average of 1.5 million gallons a day and has a capacity for 3 million gallons. Besides the village, the water goes to the towns of Carlton, Gaines, Murray, Barre and Albion.

The plant completed a biomass boiler system last year that uses wood pellets. The plant will soon have a new fluoride building to keep fluoride separate from the main plant.

Rush and water plant workers also have undertaken a rigorous paint and preservation plan to help preserve and update the aesthetics of the plant.

“I enjoy working in the water industry as it involves many facets of science and business to maintain a quality product at an affordable cost,” Rush said. “I find myself working with the lab director one day staying vigilant with the many ‘emerging contaminants’ in source water to identify and adequately treat the water. The next day I am working with our IT team and CISA to ensure adequate cybersecurity measures are in place to prevent attacks.”

The plant is preparing for another big project with upgrades and expansion of the filtration system, new pumps and other equipment. That should bring the capacity up to 4 million gallons. That excess capacity would be a big asset for the village in recruiting new businesses to the community.

“These many projects require ample knowledge of engineering to review plans and construction projects to ensure we are receiving an acceptable final product that we have the know-how to operate and maintain,” Rush said. “Most importantly, providing water that is potable and of good aesthetic quality at a reasonable price to our friends and family throughout our distribution system is probably the most satisfaction you can get from any career.”