DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee (DMTN) associates (left to right) Steve Langley and Jim Earl, both of Environmental Engineering, and Robert Blevins, Cold Forging Department, hook up a transfer hose to pump out a phosphate sludge settling tank. The sludge will be transferred to DMTN’s wastewater plant for dewatering. Advanced environmental training by DMTN associates has resulted in significant environmental improvements at the plant.

DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee (DMTN)—At DMTN, it’s not enough to just meet regulatory requirements for wastewater. They are committed to going above and beyond those requirements.

That’s why DMTN played a key role in launching a water pretreatment certification program for Tennessee and Kentucky. The new Kentucky-Tennessee Water Pretreatment Certification Program is voluntary for industry and municipalities.

The program covers topics including pretreatment history, safety issues, general wastewater treatment technology, sampling and flow measurement.

According to Mike Fontinell, environmental staff member, Environmental Engineering, this is all part of DENSO’s commitment to kaizen and preserving the environment.

“Most companies, including DENSO, pretreat their wastewater before it is sent to the city’s sewage systems,” he explained. “By learning how to better pretreat wastewater, we make it easier for the city to process this water before it goes back to the local environment.”

The voluntary Pretreatment Certification is offered by the Kentucky-Tennessee Water Environmental Association, a group of professionals engaged in advancing water quality and preserving and enhancing the water environment.

To date, DMTN Environmental Engineering associate Jim Earl has completed the first level of certification (there are three levels). Earl is one of only three wastewater pretreatment operators in the state of Tennessee to hold this certification.

“This additional training and teaching has given me additional knowledge, new skills and new ideas on how I can help achieve ECO Vision 2005,” said Earl. “I’m honored to be one of DMTN’s first industrial operators to earn this certification.”

DMTN will continue to send associates through the certification program.

—Anne Klebenow