Staff photo by Fritz Busch New Ulm’s Wastewater Treatment Plant was one of the Minnesota treatment plants to receive recognition from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for excellence in permit compliance.

MINNESOTA — Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) recognized several local wastewater facilities for excellence in permit compliance, including New Ulm, Comfrey, Lafayette, and Nicollet wastewater treatment plants.

To receive this recognition, facilities were required to demonstrate consistent compliance with monitoring, operations, and maintenance requirements, submit all reports to the MPCA correctly and on time and employ staff certified by the MPCA in wastewater operations.

Each year, MPCA releases a list of wastewater treatment facility operators that maintain a perfect record of permit compliance over 12 months. Between October 2019 and September 2020, 292 facilities earned recognition in Minnesota. The state has approximately 1,600 municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities. Only around 18% of facilities achieved this award.

“The MPCA appreciates the considerable efforts by permittees and operators to protect and preserve water quality, especially during a global pandemic” Municipal Division Director at MPCA, Dana Vanderbosch said. “It is this kind of essential and difficult work that has kept Minnesotans and the environment protected during these unprecedented times.”