For the eighth consecutive year, the Salmon Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant has been recognized for 100 percent environmental compliance. The Washington State Department of Ecology’s Outstanding Performance award honors the Salmon Creek plant for passing environmental tests, analyzing water samples, planning to prevent sewage spills, and finishing 2014 without any permit violations. Of the approximately 300 wastewater treatment plants operating in Washington, 127 were honored for 100 percent compliance last year. The Salmon Creek plant has received top honors 15 times since the program began in 1995. “It’s always nice to be recognized for doing a good job,” said Kay Hust, Salmon Creek plant manager. “What’s more important is operating the plant in a way that protects the environment and provides cost-effective service to the public.” Thirteen Clark County Public Works employees work at the Salmon Creek plant, which treats wastewater from Clark Regional Wastewater District and the city of Battle Ground. The Salmon Creek plant serves about 39,300 households and businesses in an area with an estimated 83,900 population. The plant’s capacity is 14.95 million gallons a day, considerably more than the average daily flow of 7.35 million gallons a day in 2014. Earlier this year, the treatment plant was transferred to the Discovery Clean Water Alliance, a regional sewer partnership involving Clark County, Clark Regional Wastewater District and the cities of Battle Ground and Ridgefield. Clark County will continue to operate the plant on a contract basis through 2019.