The consistent high performance of these treatment plants results in cleaner water and a healthier environment. Ecology evaluated the communities' wastewater treatment plants' progress based upon compliance with their wastewater discharge permit. Permits place limits on the quantity and concentrations of contaminants that treatment plants may discharge. Ecology often includes other requirements such as monitoring and reporting requirements, spill prevention planning, pretreatment and other regulatory activities in permits. Wastewater treatment plants must be operated by certified staff who are trained to operate and maintain treatment systems, perform some laboratory analysis and keep daily monitoring records.
Qualified operators are critical for successful plant operations and protections of the environment.
Plant operators keep the Daily Monitoring Records as reports of information about their wastewater treatment plants. Depending on the wastewater treatment plant, information such as wastewater temperature, amount of discharge and amounts of pollutants are recorded. These reports indicate when a facility is in or out of compliance with its permit. In 1995, the following wastewater treatment plants were in compliance with all of their permit specifications and conditions. It's great to see the wastewater treatment plants selected for a job well done.