Boise is one of just 11 communities in the United States to earn the prestigious honor this year

The West Boise Wastewater Treatment Plant has earned a Platinum Peak Performance Award, one of the highest honors in the wastewater field.

Platinum Awards are given annually by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA). The award is the wastewater equivalent of winning an Emmy.

Boise is one of just 11 communities within the United States to receive the Platinum award this year. Communities earn a gold award if they go a full year with no violations of the Clean Water Act. A platinum award is given when a wastewater facility is awarded five straight gold awards.

Violations may include high levels of solid matter or bacteria when the cleaned/treated water is released into the Boise River.

Our lab does more than 8,000 mandatory tests of the wastewater each year. For the West Boise Treatment Plant to go five straight years without a violation is phenomenal, Public Works Director Chuck Mickelson said.

This is the first Platinum Award for the West Boise Wastewater Treatment Facility. The city of Boises Lander Street Facility already has one Platinum Award. Lander Street is just one year away from a second Platinum Award.

This award is a credit to all the operators, mechanics, electricians, instrument technicians, maintenance crews, administrative staff and lab personnel at the plant who work tirelessly to ensure the cleanliness of Boises water, West Boise Plant Manger Bill Duncan said.

Video of the West Boise Wastewater Treatment Facility is available and can be delivered upon request. For more information, call Public Works Community Relations Supervisor Vince Trimboli at 384-3927.

Source: City of Boise