Bruce Adams, City of Cortland wastewater superintendent. (Photo provided by Kevin L. Smith of The Cortland Voice).
City of Cortland wastewater superintendent Bruce Adams was recently appointed to the Water Environment Federation’s (WEF) National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) Utilities Community of Practice Advisory Council, according to a release.
“This significant recognition underscores the City of Cortland's dedication to excellence in wastewater management and Bruce Adams's unwavering commitment to public service and environmental stewardship,” noted in the release.
Adams, one of the leaders within the city’s municipal government, has led the wastewater department for over a decade.
“Under his guidance, the department has achieved remarkable milestones, including implementing a Combined Heat & Power project that both significantly reduced the carbon footprint of City government as well as helped bring a major employer to the area, achieved compliance with Chesapeake Bay protective regulations using staff-developed treatment methods, and has hosted several academic and industry research projects,” the release continued.
Adams said in the release that he is “deeply honored” for the opportunity to serve on the NWSS Community of Practice Advisory Council.
“This appointment reflects not only my commitment to advancing wastewater management but also the dedication of the City of Cortland to pioneering solutions that benefit public health and the environment,” Adams said. “I look forward to collaborating with experts from across the nation on this vital endeavor.”
City mayor Scott Steve praised Adams’ appointment to the national advisory panel.
“Bruce Adams has been a cornerstone of our city’s commitment to environmental sustainability and public health,” Steve said. “His appointment to the NWSS Community of Practice Advisory Council underscores our city's dedication to cutting-edge wastewater management and its role in protecting our community and beyond.”
About Bruce Adams
Adams is a New York Grade 4A certified wastewater operator. He has worked at the Cortland wastewater facility since 1985 and rose to department head in 2011. Early in his career, Adams was instrumental in automating many of the plant processes, improving performance and reducing labor requirements. As department head, Adams has leveraged the facility for economic development for the community and to serve a key role in the city government’s greenhouse gas reduction efforts, in addition to its primary mission of protecting public health and the environment.
About the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) Community of Practice Advisory Council
The NWSS Utilities Community of Practice (CoP) is designed to promote sharing of lessons learned among wastewater utilities to accelerate the implementation of wastewater surveillance in support of public health decision making. The activities of the NWSS Utilities CoP complement the other two NWSS CoPs: the Health Departments CoP hosted by the CDC and the Laboratories CoP hosted by the Association of Public Health Laboratories. WEF relies on the input from the Utilities CoP Advisory Council (CoPAC)—an incredible group of dedicated utility, academic, government, and association wastewater surveillance experts—to provide strategic guidance on the CoP mission, goals, objectives, structure, and governance.
