OLYMPIA, WA, Aug. 11, 2015 -- The Washington Department of Ecology (DE) has recognized more than one-third of the state's wastewater treatment plants -- a total of 127 -- with the Outstanding Performance Award for perfect performance in 2014. Each of the plants passed all environmental tests, analyzed all samples, turned in all state-required reports, and avoided permit violations last year.
DE devised the annual awards program as an incentive for compliance, because wastewater treatment plant operations are the first line of defense to protect public health and water quality in the state's lakes, rivers and Puget Sound. When the awards program began in 1995, only 14 treatment plants had perfect compliance.
This year, there were five first-time award winners:
- Fort Flagler State Park Wastewater Treatment Plant in Jefferson County
- Lewis County Water District #2 Wastewater Treatment Plant
- Loon Lake Sewer District No. 4 Wastewater Treatment Plant in Stevens County
- Selkirk School District No. 70 Wastewater Treatment Plant in Pend Oreille County
- Willapa Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant in Pacific County
The Manchester Wastewater Treatment Plant in Kitsap County received its 20th consecutive award. Further, Vancouver's Marine Park Treatment Plant in Clark County received special recognition for winning the award 10 years in a row. Five plants also received special recognition for winning the award five years in a row.
State funding helps communities keep their plants operating successfully. In the current funding cycle, DE is offering $145 million in grants and loans to 21 wastewater treatment facilities for construction and preconstruction projects. In addition, the state provides technical assistance to many of small plants to help them operate successfully.
See also:
"Irrigation water rights in WA halted for Yakima Basin due to drought"
"WA offers emergency loans to small water systems damaged by natural disasters"
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