Wastewater treatment facilities in Pe Ell, Winlock, Onalaska and at Mayfield Lake have been honored with Outstanding Performance Awards from the Washington Department of Ecology for their work in 2025, according to a news release.
The four were among 125 facilities and operators to receive the honor.
“The wastewater operators at each of these facilities achieved compliance with their routine water quality monitoring, reporting requirements and in meeting water quality permit limits,” Ecology wrote in the news release. “These awards recognize the day-to-day hard work that wastewater operators perform.”
Wastewater treatment facilities are also called wastewater treatment plants. The people who work at those facilities are called operators, and they work to clean the waste out of the water that leaves industries, businesses and homes.
Their efforts help prevent pollution from entering local waterways and protect the health of communities and the environment, Ecology stated in the release.
“Operators ensure treated wastewater meets state water quality standards before it is released to rivers, streams or the Puget Sound,” the news release stated “Ecology uses wastewater permits to make sure treatment facilities are properly designed, operated and maintained to meet limits that protect people from bacteria, viruses and other harmful pollutants.”
Jon Kenning, Ecology’s Water Quality Program manager, emphasized the vital services that wastewater treatment plant operators provide for communities.
“Wastewater infrastructure is something that often goes unnoticed. Many of us don’t think about where our water goes or how it gets treated, while wastewater operators think about it every day,” Kenning said. “Their work often goes unseen, but it benefits everyone in the state.”
Ecology selects wastewater treatment plants for the Outstanding Performance Award based on meeting specific permit conditions, including:
• Regularly meeting numeric effluent limits
• Monitoring water quality, as required
• Submitting reports on time
Pe Ell Wastewater Superintendent Ryan Webster said the award is a welcome honor.
“Receiving the award is a tremendous honor for me and our staff,” he stated in the release. “This recognition reflects the dedication, professionalism and pride our team brings to the job every day. While much of our work happens behind the scenes, it plays a vital role in protecting public health, preserving our local waterways, and ensuring we provide the best possible service to the residents of Pe Ell. I couldn’t be prouder of our team and what this accomplishment means for the people we serve.”
