Eryka Reid

Happy Earth Day from RMI!!

RMI has over 25 years of biosolids management experience throughout the northeast and is honored to be recognized as a leader in innovation and sustainability within the wastewater industry!

When we were introduced to the Shincci dryer/dehumidification technology in 2018, we recognized the value of being able to transform wet sludge cake into a dried Class A biosolids fertilizer product in less than 4 hours processing time.  While RMI had managed dried biosolids in the past from conventional systems like paddle and drum dryers, the Shincci technology was more attractive because it operates at significantly lower temperatures, uses far less electricity, has a smaller footprint and is more cost-effective.

As a longstanding and successful land application company, RMI recognized the value of shifting into dryer technology, rather than just continuing to accept the wet cake that normally landed in our trucks.  With reduced tonnage, the WWTF has less trucking and disposal/utilization costs for biosolids management. The Pilot Trials at the WWTFs in both Hooksett, NH and Brattleboro, VT confirmed all these benefits.

We strongly believe in, and we are completely committed to
STOP HAULING WATER!

This is RMI’s Green Step forward!

Invitation for RMI General Manager

Another Successful Trip to Washington, DC for Water’s Worth It!

Members of the NH Water Pollution Control Association (NHWPCA) traveled to Washington, DC on April 17-18 to participate in the annual New England Water Environment Association (NEWEA) Congressional Briefing. This visit coincided with a National Fly-In for water professionals from around the country. This was the first year that the Fly-In combined drinking water and wastewater in a collaboration to double our efforts for effective outreach on all water infrastructure and topics.

New England was well represented with more than 30 folks attending including Dan Driscoll, Superintendent for Concord WWTF; Shelagh Connelly and Eryka Reid from RMI, were joined by drinking water folks including Charity Ross the Executive Director for NHWWA, John Lyons, the President of NHWWA and Chris Hodgson the President of NEWWA.

On Tuesday we enjoyed the NEWEA luncheon and briefing where we were delighted to have both Senator Shaheen and Senator Hassan talk about their long-term involvement in water quality issues starting back when they were each state senators, then NH Governors, and now our federal Senators.

We headed out as our group of 6 from NH and met with the offices of our 4 delegates, Congresswoman Carol Shea – Porter, Congresswoman Annie Kuster’s, Senator Hassan and Senator Shaheen.

As Congressman James McGovern from Massachusetts reminded us – our passion for water is important to share every year in Washington.  With so many competing issues we have to be at the table sharing our story.  The message we carried was about the need to invest in our aging and failing water infrastructure, the difficulty of working with increasing regulatory burden, the acknowledgement that water is essential to our economy and public health, and the need for a sustainable water trust.

The unseen water infrastructure needs a champion – and that is what we are, because Water’s Worth It!

Major Milestone Approaching for Local Paper Mill

Monadnock Paper Mill located in Bennington, NH is the oldest family-owned and –operated paper mill in the country and will be celebrating 200 years in 2019! Monadnock is not only a leader in the papermaking industry, but they are also passionate about environmental stewardship. Monadnock has been recognized by leading environmental organizations including the Forest Stewardship Council, the Sierra Club, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, and they have earned the Governor’s Award for Pollution Prevention as well as the Cornerstone Award from New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility for their environmental efforts. Since 2000, RMI has had the honor of partnering with Monadnock by recycling their paper fiber to be used at local farms in composting operations and as an alternative to animal bedding. By working together RMI has managed to recycle 22,000 tons of Monadnock paper fiber!

Stay tuned to hear all about how Monadnock Paper Mill will be celebrating their 200^th year of awesome work!

Congratulations Shelagh Connelly & RMI!

Every year the New England Water Environment Association (NEWEA) recognizes either an engineering firm, a specific project, a municipality, or a specific municipal or industrial facility for their outstanding accomplishments in the field of biosolids management. This year, RMI President Shelagh Connelly was nominated for this Biosolids Management Award. Shelagh along with her partners Charley Hanson and Marty Riehs have been successfully operating RMI throughout the northeast since 1994. Shelagh is very active on the Government Affairs Committee for NEWEA and for NHWPCA, and assists with regulatory overview and legislative initiatives throughout the northeast on biosolids, wood ash and paper fiber initiatives. Shelagh lives and breathes biosolids management and will do anything that needs to be done in order to ensure continued legislative and community support for biosolids land application. From wastewater treatment plant tours for local high schools, presentations at colleges, public outreach at town hall meetings, to testifying before the legislature in NH and DC there is nothing Shelagh won’t do to promote and protect the land, the environment and the people she and her RMI Team serve.

Shelagh and the whole team at RMI are very honored to have been awarded this achievement award and we can’t wait to see what 2019 has in store for us!

Durham Wastewater Treatment Facility & RMI

Durham’s wastewater treatment facility plays a very important role in protecting public health and the environment with the millions of gallons of sewage that it treats daily. Clean water and biosolids are recovered through the process and complete a recycling loop of sustainability. Since 2007, Durham and RMI have removed 16,853 wet tons of biosolids from the Great Bay watershed which equals 180,000 pounds of Nitrogen and 145,000 pounds of Phosphorous. This fertilizer was recycled to over 1,200 acres of excellent hay production in Northern New Hampshire. Thanks to the town of Durham for helping RMI promote sustainability and build healthy soils!

Customer Spotlight – Jay Pritchard

Great example of what our Biosolids can do for you! Hay production on a local field has doubled in the last three years. Last year the first cut on this field was just over 5 tons per acre and this year it will be around 7 tons per acre. A few years ago it was less than half of that.

Meet Paul Schoolcraft!

Paul has been driving for RMI since June 2010! He services almost all of our generators throughout New England but spends most of his time in Putney, VT and has racked up a whopping 780,000 miles, 23,000 hours and 6,300 loads of Heart & Soil Agricultural Products to our loyal customers. Paul is a great asset to RMI and we love having him on our team!  Paul just moved in to our newest RMI truck and is looking good!

Thanks for keeping us rolling!

Once again, members of the NH Water Pollution Control Association (NHWPCA) traveled to Washington, DC on April 17-18 to participate in the annual New England Water Environment Association (NEWEA) Congressional Briefing. This visit coincided with a National Fly-In for water professionals from around the country. This was the first year that the Fly-In combined drinking water and wastewater in a collaboration to double our efforts for effective outreach on all water infrastructure and topics.

New England was well represented with more than 30 folks attending, and New Hampshire was well represented by both NHWPCA and NH Water Works Association (NHWWA) members.  Dan Driscoll, Superintendent for Concord WWTF; Shelagh Connelly and Eryka Reid from RMI, were joined by drinking water folks including Charity Ross the Executive Director for NHWWA, John Lyons, the President of NHWWA and  Chris Hodgson the President of NEWWA.

The purpose of the Fly-In was to get in front of our elected officials to make sure they understand how important it is to continue funding water infrastructure and supporting programs and policies that ensure clean water for all our communities. With many programs seeking funding through the federal budget, it is important that water advocates are at the table.

On Tuesday we enjoyed the NEWEA luncheon and briefing.  Shelagh Connelly was delighted to introduce both Senator Shaheen and Senator Hassan and it was very nice to be able to recognize   their long-term involvement in water quality issues starting back when they were each state senators, then NH Governors, and now our federal Senators.  Strong, smart and powerful women from NH who are not afraid to lead the charge on water quality!

Later that day there was an excellent Policy Fly-In Plenary with an incredible line-up of speakers from the water industry.  The panel of speakers included leadership from WEF, NACWA, EPA, Dept. of Interior, Dept. of Agriculture, Dept. of Energy, and several staff with topics ranging from funding to blending to water reuse to USDA Farm Bill, integrated planning to WIFIA and affordability.  This was an excellent event and well worth the trip.  And then it got even better with an evening reception filled with interesting talk amidst all the water peers from around the country!

The next day kicked off with a Congressional Breakfast and Staff Roundtable which was packed with excellent policy discussion and could have lasted all day but was limited to 2 hours before we headed over to the Hill for a Joint Congressional Briefing in the Senate Dirksen Building.  George Hawkins gave a rallying talk and we heard from several speakers about the importance of participating in these Fly-Ins and being connected to our elected officials so they never forget that clean water is a top priority for our government and investment in infrastructure is essential.

We then headed out as our group of 6 from NH and met with the offices of our 4 delegates.  The first stop was with Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter’s office and we were delighted to meet with her staffer Tony Hobbs who made it a point to bring out his Water’s Worth It water bottle that we had given him back 4 years ago!  We had a good chat with Congresswoman Annie Kuster’s staffer Justin German and they too had the Water’s Worth It mug we had brought down 5 years ago. Next up was a meeting and photo with Senator Hassan, followed by an end of day meeting with Ariel Marshall who manages the environmental policy issues for Senator Shaheen. Fortunately we had fancy mugs from the NHWPCA and NHDES 50^th celebration (courtesy of Ray Gordon!) to give to each office and we will look to see which staffer got to keep them on our next visit!

Our final event was another reception atop the Library of Congress.  What a view of the Capitol and all the beautiful buildings and monuments in the area.  The food and drink were wonderful and we met people from all over this country.  This trip, and advocating for water, is truly worth it!

As Congressman James McGovern from Massachusetts reminded us –  our passion for water is important to share every year in Washington.  With so many competing issues we have to be at the table sharing our story.  The message we carried was about the need to invest in our aging and failing water infrastructure, the difficulty of working with increasing regulatory burden, the acknowledgement that water is essential to our economy and public health, and the need for a sustainable water trust.

The NHWPCA is committed to visiting DC each year so that our delegation keeps water as a high priority.  The unseen water infrastructure needs a champion – and that is what we are, because Water’s Worth It!