Port of Mattawa Awarded $618,000 for Wastewater Treatment System Expansion & Improvement Project

The state legislature included $618,000 in its Capital Budget to award the Port of Mattawa for an expansion of the port's Wastewater Treatment System. The project, which includes increasing the wastewater treatment's capacity, is an effort to accommodate the uptick in bulk wine making and wine grape crushing in central Washington.

"The Port of Mattawa owns a wastewater facility that handles all the grape crushing in the region," said Lars Leland, executive director. "At the time (of the creation of the facility) it was to help preserve the current winery, Milbrandt Winery, it was to retain jobs."

Since the wastewater facility's inception, Milbrandt has grown from 8 million gallons a year, 60 jobs to 100 million gallons of wine a year and 200 plus jobs. The facility has grown to take care of other wineries, Jones Washington, and food processors as well.

"This funding is to help with construction, better treatment and hopefully be used in matching grants for federal funds," said Leland. "That's the next step, we're hopeful for more federal funds for bigger ponds. Right now, we can't grow anymore and neither can our wineries."