The Town of Coupeville earned for the fifth consecutive year an Outstanding Wastewater Treatment Plant Award from the state Department of Ecology.

“The plant was in compliance with the effluent limits, monitoring and reporting requirements, spill prevention planning and overall operational demands of the (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit during 2014,”said Kevin Fitzpatrick, water quality section manager for DOE. “Maintaining compliance takes a committed team effort from many people with diverse roles. Plant staff often must work long hours and maintain constant vigilance to prevent and respond to any operational problems.

“At the same time operators need quality support from engineering and administrative staff to ensure they have proper resources for current and long-term operations.”

Mayor Nancy Conard said about a third of municipal wastewater treatment plants earn this recognition and that of the 117 that received the award, five had received it for the fifth consecutive year.

“We were in exclusive company,” she said.

Conard also noted that the awards earned over the last five years were all under the supervision of Public Works Director Willie LaRue.