When the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency recognized the outstanding wastewater treatment facilities in March, a familiar community in West Central Minnesota graced the list of 170 facilities who were recognized. Starbuck was honored at the 73rd Annual Wastewater Operations Conference in Brooklyn Center in March for its excellence in operations.

According to City Superintendant Gary Koos, Starbuck has received the award 21 times since 1980 and was honored after the city was deemed compliant with all of their permits throughout the past year.

To be eligible for the award, facility operators had to comply with discharge permit requirements throughout the year. These requirements included submitting all monitoring reports to the MPCA correctly and on time, demonstrating compliance through monitoring or in surveys and employing MPCA-certified operators.

"Minnesota's wastewater operators are at the front lines in protecting our state's water resources," said MPCA Assistant Commissioner Rebecca Flood in a press release. "The women and men being recognized today have worked diligently, day in and day out, to ensure that Minnesotans can enjoy clean water today and in years to come."

As a whole there are nearly 1,700 wastewater treatment facilities in Minnesota which include municipal, industrial and some privately-operated institutional facilities. Size of the community and treatment plant are not a factor in awarding the certificates of excellence.