Last week, Bardstown’s Jerry Riley Wastewater Treatment Plant was honored with several state-level awards for excellence in wastewater treatment. At the Kentucky Water and Wastewater Operators Association Annual Conference, Chief Operator Charlotte Lyvers was the 2021 recipient of the “J.C. Chambers Award.” Lyvers was also named the Central Kentucky Chapter “Wastewater Operator of the Year” for 2021.

The “J.C. Chambers Award” is given each year to one Kentucky individual having ten or more years of professional involvement in the water industry who demonstrates a commitment to the improvement of the management and technical progression of operations, maintenance and/or water quality.

Ms. Lyvers is a long-time City of Bardstown employee, having worked at the wastewater plant for over 19 years. In addition to bringing home awards for her personal career achievements, Lyvers currently leads the team at the Jerry Riley Wastewater Treatment Plant. This year, the facility received the KWWOA’s award for “Outstanding Wastewater System Operation.”

The treatment facility that receives this award must “currently and continually be demonstrating a level of proficient operations in accordance with all regulatory standards, with no more than one violation in the past twelve months.”

Ms. Lyvers credits her team of employees as the reason for the recent accolades. “Without such a good staff, we wouldn’t be able to maintain operations as well.” She says she finds working at the wastewater plant to be a rewarding career. “I’ve enjoyed my time here and I hope to continue on.” This is the first time that a Bardstown wastewater operator or treatment plant has taken home any of these three awards, much less all three in one year.

Lyvers intends to display the awards in the front lobby of the plant, where they can be seen as a reminder to her staff of their excellent work ethic and dedication to public service.