As Vice President of the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) Wastewater Division, Joseph C. Pantalone oversees the 40 million gallon-per-day wastewater treatment plant in Atlantic City, NJ, and regional collection system that serves approximately 225,000 residents of Atlantic County.
Since joining ACUA in 2013, Pantalone has concentrated his leadership efforts on the improvement and sustainability of the wastewater treatment plant, collection system and its employees. He has implemented a revitalization plan to ensure the replacement of essential equipment and infrastructure as well as the general maintenance and organization of the facility, which is visited by thousands of travelers annually. He has also overseen the development of several resiliency projects that will protect the crucial facility during a flood or severe storm.
He has also undertaken the creation of an Operational Management Plan (OMP) that incorporates strategic planning, continuity planning and asset management to manage quality control of the entire operation. The program requires a yearly evaluation, review of standard operating procedures and goal-setting established with input of the entire staff.
With an eye to the future, Pantalone looks to further improve ACUA’s environmental impact by partnering with the local community in beneficial wastewater reuse projects and capturing the heat generated from biosolids incineration for electricity. While other priorities at the NJDEP have reduced attention to wastewater reuse initiatives, ACUA remains committed to continue to push for a demonstration project.
Over the past 3 years, Pantalone was instrumental in fostering a strategic plan which involves the upgrade of the facility's 40-year-old solids handling process (Phase 1) and proposed incinerator upgrades (Phase 2). When completed, these projects will ensure and guide reliable and environmentally sound wastewater treatment and disposal over the next 20-30 years.
Pantalone served as the Public Engineering Department Head/Human Resources Director for more than 20 years at Adams, Rehmann and Heggan (ARH) Associates, a civil engineering and planning firm serving both municipal and county governments in Hammonton, NJ. In this position, Pantalone was involved in numerous water and wastewater projects throughout South Jersey totaling more than $145 million dollars in infrastructure improvements.
Prior to joining Adams Rehmann and Heggan, Pantalone served as the Executive Director of the Hamilton Township Municipal Utilities Authority in Mays Landing, NJ, from 1981 through 1988.
Pantalone currently serves on the Association of Environmental Authorities (AEA) Legislative Committee and was elected to their Board of Trustees in 2021. He serves on the Atlantic County Groundwater Advisory Committee and serves as Vice President of the New Jersey Water Environment Association, South Section. He has served on the Hammonton Chamber of Commerce for more than 20 years, including three years as its president, and is a recipient of the Chamber’s outstanding service to the community award. He is also a former member of Atlantic County’s Solid Waste Advisory Council and the Atlantic County Economic Advisory Committee. He currently serves as the NJWEA South Section President and is a Board Member of the Association of Environmental Authorities (AEA). Within the AEA, he is the current Chair of the PFAS Sub Committee.
Pantalone is a graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology/Sociology and a Master of Arts in Personnel Administration. He resides in Hammonton, NJ.
CONTACT JOE
jpantalone@acua.com
609.343.7732