Story #41 - Serena DiMagno Recognized to Hall of Fame

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Story #41 is the story of Serena DiMagno’s induction into the WWOAP Hall of Fame in 2022.

In October of 2022 Serena DiMagno was inducted into the WWOAP’s prestigious Hall of Fame. The Water Works Operators' Association of Pennsylvania recognized Serena A. DiMagno during their Annual Conference for her contributions to the water industry and her immeasurable value as an industry leader, instructor, mentor, and colleague.

The Hall of Fame designation honors very select individuals who the organization deems worthy based upon their dedication & contributions to the drinking water industry. DiMagno is only the 16th industry professional to receive Hall of Fame status since the WWOAP's inception 95 years ago.

Serena joined SSM in 2014 and serves our clients as a Senior Environmental Consultant. Since joining the team she has consistently demonstrated her expertise both within our staff and for the public year after year.

 

October 4, 2022 - Today, we are very proud and honored to induct an extremely deserving individual into the Water Works Operators' Association of Pennsylvania's prestigious Hall of Fame. Serena earned a B.S in Biology/Chemistry from Chatham University before embarking on a more than 45-year career in water and wastewater system investigation, design, operations and treatment, management, regulatory negotiation, permitting and compliance. She has held leadership positions in both the private and public sectors including business development, client relationship management and marketing, in addition to having owned her own consulting firm, which she managed for 20 years. Although semi-retired, she is currently a Special Consultant for Spotts, Stevens and McCoy.

Serena is a Pennsylvania certified water and wastewater treatment plant operator. She has continued to serve the water industry, and representing WWOAP, as the Chair of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Agency’s Small Systems Technical Advisory Committee (TAC Board).

In addition to her extensive service to WWOAP, she has served in several leadership roles in AWWA, is an active member of the Pennsylvania Water Utility Council and has chaired the Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Committee for the Water Works Operator’s Association of Pennsylvania since 1990.

Just as she has served in many roles for water industry associations, Serena has held many positions at several companies, including one of her own, over her illustrious career. She was the Service Area Director for Environmental Engineering and Air Quality with Rettew, Inc., which encompassed 11 offices in 4 states. She was also the Vice President of Environmental Regulatory Compliance and Assistant Vice President of Water and Wastewater Services with Spotts, Stevens McCoy, a multi-disciplinary engineering firm with 2 offices in PA. She was responsible for the technical and business functions of the Service Area Groups for both firms and lead their department’s efforts in business development, client relationship management and marketing.

She was President and owner of DiMagno Associates, Inc. At DA inc, Serena was responsible for project management encompassing a wide range of diverse environmental and engineering projects; permit preparation; design, operations, and maintenance evaluations; water quality evaluations; water quality investigations and laboratory studies, including process pilot plant studies; water treatment plant residual land application (both agricultural utilization and beneficial use) site evaluations, permit applications and permit management; and expert witness testimony for court proceedings and before public utility commissions, including document and exhibit preparations. She also prepared environmental and community impact statements and conducted feasibility studies.

Prior to establishing DAI, she was Superintendent of Production for Dauphin Consolidated Water Supply Company, General Waterworks Company in Harrisburg. She supervised all supply, pumping, and production operations including a 7.2 Million Gallon per day filter plant, a 2 MGD filter plant, a 1 MGD Zeolite Softening plant, a 1 MGD standby filter plant, three well systems, eight booster stations, and a 6.3 Million Gallon storage system of 10 standpipes and two reservoirs supplying three multi-municipal distribution systems serving 20,000 domestic, commercial, and industrial customers. She also participated in engineering studies, surveys, and designed statistical analyses, as well as supervised construction projects utilizing outside contractors.

She was Director of Water Quality for the City of Harrisburg, Public Works Department. She was responsible for quality control and regulatory compliance for the municipal wastewater treatment plant, and the water treatment plant and distribution system. These systems included a 30 MGD pure-oxygen activated sludge plant with on-site cryogenic oxygen generation, incorporating a residuals management facility with mechanical dewatering, drying and incineration capabilities. The water system included a 6 billion gallon impoundment reservoir and dam supplying 13 MGD. She directly supervised two laboratory operations that performed bacteriological, chemical and physical analyses of potable water, wastewater and industrial waste samples.

She has authored and presented numerous technical papers for various professional conferences, meetings, and workshops.

Serena is a Past President of the Water Works Operators Association of Pennsylvania and the recipient of the organization’s Harry J. Krum Award, the Ivan M. Glace Award, the Fred G. Eckardt Award, and the Elton D. Walker Award. She has also been recognized by PA-AWWA with the Special Recognition Award, the George Warren Fuller Award, and the Samuel S. Baxter Award.