U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) is accepting applications for the 2016 Clean Water Awards until June 30. The awards recognize outstanding performance of wastewater treatment plants that operate at poultry or egg processing facilities. Winners will be announced at USPOULTRY’s 2016 Environmental Management Seminar to be held Sept. 22 – 23, at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Destin, Fla.

“Poultry companies are steadfast in their dedication to environmental stewardship and do an outstanding job managing their wastewater treatment facilities. Virtually all of the water used in poultry and egg processing is returned to the environment in first-rate condition, consistently exceeding the standards established in their discharge permits. USPOULTRY is pleased to sponsor this annual award program that highlights the hard work wastewater treatment professionals in our industry take to protect our natural resources and enhance the environment,” said Paul Hill, West Liberty Foods, Ellsworth, Iowa, and USPOULTRY chairman.

Awards are presented in two categories – full treatment and pretreatment. Full treatment facilities are those facilities that fully treat their wastewater prior to discharge into a receiving stream or a land application system. Pretreatment facilities are those facilities that discharge pretreated effluent to publicly-owned wastewater treatment facilities for further treatment. Any USPOULTRY member company is eligible to submit three nominees in each category. Facilities which have previously won the award may not be re-nominated for five years.