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EPA Orders City of Lebanon, NH, to Eliminate Six Pipes Discharging Raw Sewage

Release Date: 06/08/2000
Contact Information: Amy Miller, EPA Press Office (617-918-1042)

BOSTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the city of Lebanon to eliminate all seven pipes in the city's sewer system that discharge raw sewage into local watersways during rainy weather.

In an administrative order signed today, EPA New England directed the city to eliminate the combined sewer overflow (CSO) pipes, which several times a year result in violations of the federal Clean Water Act. Overflows occur when the city's wastewater collection system, which carries both sewage and storm water, exceeds its capacity, causing untreated sewage and storm water to be discharged through these outfall pipes. The discharges occur after rainstorms.

The Lebanon sewer facility discharges about 1.6 million gallons a day of treated wastewater into the Connecticut River. The system's CSOs discharge into the Mascoma River, the Connecticut River and Great Brook, all rivers open to fishing and boating.

"The people of Lebanon have a right to waterways that are safe for recreational uses," said Mindy S. Lubber, Regional Administrator for EPA New England. "Getting rid of these overflow pipes will significantly improve local water quality, creating a cleaner environment and more enjoyable boating and fishing."

EPA's order stems from a September 1998 plan in which the city documented violations of water quality standards due to CSO discharges. According to the order, Lebanon must eliminate six of its CSOs by Dec. 31, 2008. The cost is estimated at $7,251,700. It must also submit an engineering study to EPA by Dec. 31 2005 identifying sewer separation projects to eliminated the final CSO by the end of 2012.