Oyster Bay Sewer District Chief Operator Tom Rossetti joined an elite group of individuals when he was presented with the "Quarter Century Operators Club" award by the New York Water Environmental Association.

A statewide organization of water quality management professionals, the NYWEA is a member association of the International Water Environmental Federation, which consists of 38,000 water quality professionals. The NYWEA has 2,100 members and seven regional chapters throughout New York. Rossetti proudly accepted his hard earned award at the Long Island chapter meeting this past spring at the Water Mill Inn in Smithtown.

A member of the Oyster Bay Sewer District team since 1974, Rosetti has been Chief Operator for the past 25 years. He holds a Grade III waste water treatment plant operators license from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Rossetti is responsible for overseeing all day-to-day operations of the sewage treatment facility and the wastewater collection system, which includes three pump stations and more than 24 miles of sewer. As superintendent, Rossetti oversees a staff of 18. Among his many responsibilities, he coordinates maintenance procedures, supervises testing requirements and reviews sewer connection applications - all to ensure the safe efficient processing of the district's wastewater.

"It's a big responsibility and a job I take very seriously and perform each day with great pride," explained Rossetti, who is a native of Oyster Bay. "Since I came to work here, the Oyster Bay Sewer District has been committed to doing everything possible to protect the environment and I am happy to say I have played an important role in achieving that goal."