CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Berkeley County Public Service Sewer District will have to pay thousands of dollars in penalties and make improvements to its system after officials reported multiple issues, including an excess of pollution at wastewater treatment facilities.
The U.S. Justice Department announced the penalty on Wednesday.
According to a federal court complaint, federal and state Department of Environmental Protection officials cited the system for exceeding pollution limits at permitted treatment plants more than 1,300 times; allowing sanitary sewer overflows more than 500 times; failing to properly operate and maintain sewage collection systems; and failing to develop and implement an adequate Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System program.
The sewer district will have to pay $432,000 to the federal government and $86,400 to the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The Justice Department said the sewer district will “satisfy remaining penalties” owed to the state by implementing a supplemental environmental project, which will require providing treatment from the White Bush Landing and Midway mobile home parks. The project is valued at more than $1.1 million.
The agreement also requires improvements to the sewer and stormwater systems, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates will cost $50 million.