Editing Winthrop, Washington (section)

===Utilities===

[[Electric power]] in the town and surrounding area is provided by the Okanogan County Electric Co-op (OCEC), a nonprofit [[cooperative]] that serves northwestern Okanogan County rather than the [[Okanogan County Public Utility District]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Service Territory Agreements |url=https://www.okanoganpud.org/service-territory-agreements |publisher=[[Okanogan County Public Utility District]] |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> OCEC, which is headquartered near Winthrop, was founded in 1939 and primarily purchases its electricity from the federal [[Bonneville Power Administration]], which manages several [[hydroelectric dam]]s in the Pacific Northwest.<ref>{{cite web |author=DeCoria, Blair & Teague |date=May 10, 2023 |title=Okanogan County Electric Cooperative, Inc. and Subsidiary Financial Report December 31, 2022 and 2021 |page=7 |url=https://ocec.coop/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/5-OCEC-May-2023-Board-Meeting-WEB.pdf |publisher=Okanogan County Electric Co-op |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref><ref name="Plan-CF4">{{harvp|Winthrop Planning Commission|2015|p=CF{{hyphen}}4}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=January 29, 2025 |title=2023 Utility Fuel Mix Market Summary |page=48 |url=https://deptofcommerce.app.box.com/s/l9sqx4bcfnko3omrpk4tv8n0vbzcvsdz/file/1730140874220 |publisher=[[Washington State Department of Commerce]] |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> The cooperative has a subsidiary that delivers [[propane]] for heating and acquired a local [[internet service provider]], Methownet, in 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Regular Members |url=https://www.wreca.coop/members/regular-members/ |publisher=Washington Rural Electric Cooperative Association |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=McCreary |first=Ann |date=May 16, 2024 |title=OCEC gets state grant for more fiber optic buildout |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2024/05/16/ocec-gets-state-grant-for-more-fiber-optic-buildout/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> Landline telephone service is provided by [[CenturyLink]], while several carriers have [[mobile broadband]] service in the area.<ref>{{harvp|Winthrop Planning Commission|2015|p=CF{{hyphen}}5}}</ref>

The town government maintains a [[tap water|water]] system that supplies drinking water to residents and businesses within Winthrop. The town sources its water from a [[well]] and has {{convert|11|mi|km}} of pipes in its [[water distribution system]], which also includes a storage [[reservoir]] and a [[pump station]].<ref>{{harvp|Winthrop Planning Commission|2015|p=CF{{hyphen}}1}}</ref> Winthrop also sells its water for [[firefighting]] but does not regularly supply residents outside of the town limits who rely on their own wells;<ref>{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Don |date=July 11, 2024 |title=Winthrop asked to consider selling town water in extreme droughts |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2024/07/11/winthrop-asked-to-consider-selling-town-water-in-extreme-droughts/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> the town had conservation restrictions on water use during periods of prolonged droughts prior to upgrades to the water system made in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 9, 2024 |title=As drought drags on, some water users are cut off |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2024/08/09/as-drought-drags-on-some-water-users-are-cut-off/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> The number of customers supplied by Winthrop's water system is also managed by the [[Washington State Department of Health]], which places a cap on the number of authorized connections.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Don |date=August 29, 2024 |title=Winthrop's 6-month moratorium on subdivision applications lifted |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2024/08/29/winthrops-6-month-moratorium-on-subdivision-applications-lifted/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref>

Winthrop's [[sanitary sewer]] system was constructed in 1971 and expanded to {{convert|11.1|mi|km}} by 2015, with service to Sun Mountain Resort and other areas outside the town itself.<ref name="Plan-CF2">{{harvp|Winthrop Planning Commission|2015|p=CF{{hyphen}}2}}</ref> The [[wastewater treatment plant]] south of the town has an [[aerated lagoon]] and chlorination system that discharges treated water into the Methow River.<ref name="Plan-CF2"/> The plant was upgraded in 1992 and is planned to be replaced by an adjacent facility with a [[sewage sludge treatment|sludge treatment system]] by 2027.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Don |date=February 13, 2025 |title=DOE recommends funds for Winthrop wastewater treatment plant |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2025/02/13/doe-recommends-funds-for-winthrop-wastewater-treatment-plant/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> [[Municipal solid waste|Solid waste]] collection is contracted to a private company, WasteWise, that serves most of the Methow Valley;<ref>{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Don |date=May 26, 2021 |title=Summer is garbage time in Winthrop |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2021/05/26/summer-is-garbage-time-in-winthrop/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref> the non-profit organization Methow Recycles is contracted to provide curbside [[recycling]] pickup.<ref name="Plan-CF2"/> Winthrop also has a commercial [[compost]]ing facility that opened in 2023 and collects materials from restaurants and residences.<ref>{{cite news |last=Limmer-Lai |first=Mia |date=August 1, 2024 |title=B2G Compost builds on recycling program for residents, businesses |url=https://methowvalleynews.com/2024/08/01/b2g-compost-builds-on-recycling-program-for-residents-businesses/ |work=Methow Valley News |accessdate=February 17, 2025}}</ref>