Wastewater Treatment Facility Earns Award of Recognition from MPCA
The City of Willmar Wastewater Treatment Facility earns recognition from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for operational excellence. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is recognizing The City of Willmar Wastewater Treatment Facility for outstanding operations. To receive this recognition, facilities must demonstrate consistent compliance with monitoring, operations, and maintenance requirements; submit accurate, on-time reports to the MPCA; and employ staff certified by the MPCA in wastewater operations.
The City of Willmar Wastewater Treatment Facility earns recognition from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for operational excellence. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is recognizing The City of Willmar Wastewater Treatment Facility for outstanding operations. To receive this recognition, facilities must demonstrate consistent compliance with monitoring, operations, and maintenance requirements; submit accurate, on-time reports to the MPCA; and employ staff certified by the MPCA in wastewater operations.
“The people who safeguard this outstanding treatment facility are committed to protecting and preserving water quality in a state that deeply values its natural resources,” said Nicole Blasing Municipal Division director at MPCA. “The MPCA recognizes their considerable efforts and deeply appreciates their service to their community.”
Recognizing facilities this year has even more significance as the MPCA celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. The Clean Water Act established the basic framework for regulating pollution in waters by creating water quality standards to protect drinking water and to maintain a healthy aquatic community for animal and recreation uses. Thanks to these standards, treatment facilities were developed to clean water before it is returned to a river or stream.
“Having a high-quality Wastewater Department is very important to the Kandiyohi region with the many numbers of rivers, streams, and lakes that can be affected by a poor wastewater system. Willmar City Council and staff members are very proud of the excellent work of the Wastewater Department” said Mayor Doug Reese. “Staff quietly go about their duties each day to ensure our business and residents have quality service, and when there is a problem, they respond quickly to ensure needs are being met and clean water is being returned to our surrounding environment.”
Minnesota has approximately 1,600 municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities with 248 qualifying for the outstanding operations recognition.
Pictured (Left to Right) are staff that also received individual awards for their outstanding performance:
Matt Hatzinger – 2023 MN Wastewater Operator’s Association Central Section Award for Class C Operators
Wes Greeley – 2022 MN Wastewater Operator’s Association Award for Class D Operators
Allen Schueler – 2023 MN Wastewater Operator’s Association Central Section Award for Maintenance
Jason Steele – 2023 MN Wastewater Operator's Association Central Section Award for Laboratory