EPHRATA – The City of Ephrata’s Water Reclamation Facility was recognized by the Department of Ecology for outstanding performance in 2024. The city received a letter from DOE Water Quality Program Manager Joe Kenning on Aug. 20. 

“That award is for achieving 100% compliance with our licensing environment for a whole year, which is an outstanding feat,” Public Works Director Rob Harris said. “Our wastewater treatment plant operators, they did a hell of a job.” 

According to the letter from DOE, Ecology evaluates around 300 wastewater treatment plants for permit compliance, monitoring and reporting data. In 2024, 121 facilities received the award. Ephrata was acknowledged as one of the top performers that regularly met these standards in 2024, resulting in them receiving the "Wastewater Treatment Plant Outstanding Performance” award.  

In Grant County, there were four award recipients, including Ephrata, Moses Lake's Larson Wastewater Treatment Facility, Sun Village Resort Wastewater Treatment Facility and the Warden Water Reclamation Facility.  

“Wastewater infrastructure is something many of us don’t think about, while operators are thinking about it every day,” Jon Kenning, who leads Ecology’s Water Quality program, said in a statement. “Wastewater treatment operators help ensure clean water for our communities and the environment. Their work often goes unseen, but it benefits everyone in our state.”