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EPA Seeks Fine From Fitchburg for Sewer Overflows; Orders Change in Pumping to West Side Wastewater Plant

Release Date: 04/03/2001
Contact Information: Mark Merchant, EPA Press Office (617-918-1013)

BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced it is proposing a fine of $137,500 against the city of Fitchburg, Mass. for repeated discharges of untreated sewage into the North Nashua River from its sewer system.

Acording to EPA's complaint, Fitchburg released untreated sewage into the Nashua River on a number of different occasions during dry weather. In each case, the city notified the EPA of the releases in writing after they occurred. Overflows from sewer systems into rivers are a significant threat to water quality, carrying viruses, bacteria and other biological pathogens as well as industrial wastes which may contain toxic materials.

"Given the repeated violations, the penalty against the city of Fitchburg is enitrely appropriate.The city has know for years that it has had a problem and yet did not move decisively to stop the sewage releases," said Ira Leighton, acting regional administrator of EPA New England. "We're hoping to see an end to these dry-weather overflow problems by the end of this year."

On Dec. 4, 2000, EPA issued an order requiring the city to prevent dry-weather sewage discharges. The city is undertaking work pursuant to that order.

In a separate action, EPA is ordering the city to divert all of the domestic flow – or wastewater from homes in the city – from its west wastewater treatment plant to a plant on the east side of the city.

The order is being issued because the west-side plant discharged more ammonia- nitrogen into the North Nashua River than is allowed by the permit under which it operated from 1993 until Nov. 2, 2000. EPA believes the City will continue to discharge more ammonia-nitrogen than allowable under the new City's new permit.

The order requires the city divert all of its domestic wastewater streams from the west plant to the east plant by Dec. 15, 2003. The City believes that the domestic wastewater is the source of much of the ammonia-nitrogen being discharged.

"The North Nashua River is a valuable resource in the community," said Leighton. "The EPA actions should help ensure that the river is protected into the future for all recreational uses."