NTM Completes Its 6th Annual Wellness Challenge

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NTM recently wrapped up our 6th Annual Wellness Challenge. The Challenge began as a result of staff working from home during the pandemic in the summer of 2020 as a way to keep interaction going between employees and boost morale. This virtual challenge was created to encourage employees to work as a team to incorporate healthy eating, exercise, and mindfulness. Today, the Challenge remains popular with an impressive 90% of staff participating.

Employees posted photos, recipes, and encouragement to a dedicated Microsoft Teams channel, allowing staff from all offices, including remote, to participate. Over the course of six weeks, employees incorporate weekly themes into their activities. Themes for this year included music as motivation, stress management, getting outside, focusing on mindfulness, and grabbing a buddy. Points were given for at least 30 minutes of exercise each day, healthy eating, and posting at least one image a week to the Teams channel. Bonus walking and biking challenges were added for additional competition. Weekly and overall prizes were awarded at the end of the six weeks.

Of the 90% of staff who participated, 79% participated in 5 of the 6 weeks. In a separate bonus challenge, NTM employees logged a remarkable total of 1,429 walking/running miles and 1,360 biking miles.

NTM IDDE Inspections

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NTM recently completed Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) inspections in Montgomery County, PA for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. Stormwater Designer Caroline Houlihan, EIT and Field Technician Elizabeth Zink used the inspections as an opportunity to give our summer interns valuable hands-on experience.

IDDE is a required component of the US EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting program for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s). It focuses on identifying and eliminating non-stormwater discharges that enter storm drains and flow directly into local bodies of water without any treatment. Illicit discharges include chemical runoff, pet waste, spilled oil, and more, which can be harmful to aquatic life and pose a public health risk.

We are proud to conduct these kinds of inspections to preserve our ecosystems and protect public health.