News Flash

This is an aerial image of your wastewater treatment plant under construction, taken seven months into the project. Numerous improvements are in progress, but the most obvious in the photo above include a new *aeration basin (highlighted in orange),**blower building expansion (highlighted in green), a new ***secondary clarifier (highlighted in blue), and a new ****storage building (highlighted in yellow). 

The wastewater treatment process is important for many reasons. It removes pollution from the water and separates and composts solids all in a manner that protects public health and the environment. For example, the 2020 Fall Chinook Fishing Season opened on the Clearwater and Snake Rivers on August 18th. A popular fishing spot in our area is at the confluence and that is down stream from the Lewiston Wastewater Treatment Plant. Without clean water in our rivers, their would be no fish to catch. Swimming, boating, and other water activities are also enjoyable because of our clean water. 

Completion of the project is scheduled for March 2022. We will continue to provide updates as the project progresses. 

*The aeration basin is a structure where air is pumped into the water to provide oxygen for treatment. 

**The blower building houses the blowers that provide the air for the aeration basins. Oxygen needs to be pumped into the water so the microbes can do their work removing nutrients before the water can be disinfected and pumped back into the river. 

***The secondary clarifier is where microbes and other solids created in the aeration basins are removed.

****The storage building houses materials and equipment that would otherwise deteriorate in the elements.