DOE recognizes clean Pateros wastewater

PATEROS – The city’s wastewater treatment plant is among 126 across the state – five of those in Okanogan County – recognized with a 2020 State Department of Ecology (DOE) Outstanding Wastewater Treatment Plant Award. Pateros earned the honor by achieving full compliance with its 2020 water quality permits. Mike Lambert is the plant operator.

A DOE media release said that wastewater treatment plant operators faced unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic last year.

“Facility staff kept the plants running 24 hours a day, seven days a week while also managing an influx of wipes, masks, and gloves clogging up their systems and causing serious problems,” said the DOE. “Despite these challenges, 40 percent of Washington’s treatment plants earned top-performing status in 2020.”

Other county treatment plants to receive the DOE award included Okanogan, Tonasket, Twisp, and Omak.
 
The DOE said wastewater treatment plant operators play a critical role in maintaining the state’s water quality. They must deal with everything homes and businesses dump in or flush down the drain, regardless of if the materials should be going down the drain in the first place.
 
“Wastewater treatment plant operators demonstrated just how resilient, talented, and dedicated they are by what they accomplished in 2020.” said Vince McGowan, Ecology’s water quality program manager. “Their efforts help protect water quality for all of us. Now is the time to thank your local wastewater treatment plant operator.”
 
DOE evaluated more than 300 treatment plants across the state to determine how they were meeting the pollution limits, monitoring, and reporting requirements, spill prevention planning, pretreatment, and operation demands outlined in their permits.
 
Treatment plant operators like Lambert work in close collaboration with DOE to meet water quality permit standards and the agency provides technical assistance to help. Operators can also apply for state funding to help upgrade and improve their systems.