River recreation safety addressed in Waitsburg

WAITSBURG—After recent Dayton City Council actions delaying compliance with Department of Ecology guidelines for effluent release, residents of Waitsburg brought concerns to Waitsburg city officials.

City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe contacted the Department of Ecology’s Water Quality Program manager Llyn Doremus for guidance.

In an email response, Doremus stated that the effluent from the Dayton Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) meets the required permit limits for fecal coliform.

“The fecal coliform content measured (weekly) has been significantly below the 100 CFU/ 100 ml criteria for recreational use (swimming) in the Touchet River since early 2020. Bottom line, the Dayton WWTP effluent does not pose a health risk to Waitsburg residents who are swimming in the Touchet River,” said Doremus.

Doremus told The Times that though current levels of fecal coliform are safe for recreational use in the Touchet River, other discharges affect aquatic health and water quality.

The Dayton City Council has not publicly identified the plan it has decided on moving forward. During the last city council meeting, members went into executive session to discuss the city’s response to a letter from the Department of Ecology over the delays to its WWTP project. It appears the council agreed to a plan in th e closed session but would not disclose details as the city investigates property for the project from a seller who wishes to be unnamed at this time.