LS Sewer District
receives prestigious award

BY PAM STEVENS | EDITOR It sure is nice to go into the bathroom and not have to worry about what happens every time you flush the toilet and if it weren’t for the board and staff at the Lake Stevens Sewer District things could get really ugly.

Last Thursday, the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) presented the LS Sewer District with the award for “Outstanding Wastewater Treatment Plant”. This award began 11 years ago and has been awarded to Lake Stevens five times.

Karen Burgess, from the DOE, presented the award to Rick Lewellen, Deputy Manager of Operations, Darwin Smith, Manager and the three Sewer District Commissioners, Jack Hatlen, Jim Mitchell and George Wood.

“This recognition is well deserved,” Burgess said. “The Lake Stevens Sewer District has met stringent criteria in order to receive this award.”

The criteria needed to earn this recognition includes compliance with its effluent limits, monitoring and reporting requirements, spill prevention, planning, pretreatment and other regulatory activities.

“Of approximately 300 waste water treatment plants, yours ranked one among 55 that achieved full compliance with its discharge permit in 2006,” David C. Peeler of the DOE said in a letter sent to the Sewer District in May.

Rick Lewellen accepted the plaque with heartfelt gratitude; not only for the award but for the team he works with everyday that works hard to make sure the citizens of Lake Stevens and surrounding areas don’t have to worry about where their raw sewage goes.

“It’s my great honor and pleasure to supervise such a great team,” Lewellen said to a packed house.

Darwin Smith also thanked all of the people involved in making the sewer district run so smoothly.

“I am very, very proud of the staff at the Lake Stevens Sewer District,” Smith said. “We have an unblemished record in our wastewater treatment plant.”

The Sewer District is also celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. Jim Mitchell, the Secretary of the Board of Commissioners, and his wife helped form the Sewer District in 1957 and has been an important part of the success and growth the Sewer District has encountered over the past 50 years.

Smith reiterated his appreciation for Mitchell and all he has done.

“Jim was the first person interested in the water quality here in Lake Stevens and he and his wife were very instrumental in getting this district formed,” Smith said.

Smith also recognized the staff at the City of Lake Stevens for all of their support and Representative John Lovick for helping them get funding for their projects.

blog comments powered by Disqus