All News Releases By Date

WELLS, MAINE, FACES ENVIRONMENTAL FINE FOR POLLUTION DISCHARGES

Release Date: 03/18/1997
Contact Information: Alice Kaufman, EPA Press Office, (617) 918-1064

BOSTON--- The New England office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a penalty of $50,000 against the Wells Sanitary District in Wells, Maine, for discharges of pollutants to the Atlantic Ocean. EPA also ordered the Wells Sanitary District, operator of the wastewater treatment plant, to come into compliance with its permit for the discharge of chlorine and fecal coliform to the ocean.

According to EPA, Wells Sanitary District was in violation of pollutant limits detailed in its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit over a four year period beginning in 1993.

EPA issues NPDES permits to dischargers of wastewater to waters of the United States. These permits set stringent limits on the amount of pollutants contained in the wastewater. Chlorine is typically added to the wastewater to reduce bacteria levels, but chlorine itself can be toxic in the aquatic environment. Therefore, limitations are also often placed on chlorine levels as a safeguard to marine organisms.

This case is one of six being taken by EPA against New England municipalities for violations of chlorine limits at wastewater treatment plants. EPA issued similar orders to the town of Ayer, Massachusetts, the city of Meriden, Connecticut.