By The Chronicle, 4/24/1999
ONALASKA - The Onalaska wastewater treatment plant will receive a $2.5 million upgrade as a result of federal grant and loan funds announced Thursday.
The money will help the aging plant correct past discharge violations.
Lewis County officials issued a health advisory in 1997 after the state Department of Ecology found the plant discharging practically untreated sewage into the Newaukum River.
The county advised citizens not to swim or fish in the river, or to drink from it.
Problems arose over a breakdown at the plant. The breakdown has since been fixed. The district pumped waste sludge from the plant. That material had contaminated much of the facility.
Lewis County Commissioner Dennis Hadaller, who represents the area, spoke Thursday at an "Earth Day 2000" event at the Onalaska Fire Department, where the grant was announced.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said, in a prepared statement, the $1.8 million grant is "critical for communities that are working to improve water quality while maintaining affordable rates for system users."
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