Berkeley County sewer district responsible for fines, improvements following citations

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.





More News

News
Mountain State Art and Craft Fair to return for the 61st year
The 61st year of the Mountain State Art & Craft Fair will return to the grounds of the Cedar Lakes Conference Center, where its been the site of the fair since its inception in 1963.
May 28, 2023 - 3:00 pm
News
WVU transition begins to come into focus
A campus conversation was held earlier this week.
May 28, 2023 - 1:14 pm
News
As pipeline nears completion, West Virginia Rivers pushes against expedited approval
West Virginia Rivers is among the environmental groups promoting a June 8 protest in front of the White House.
May 28, 2023 - 11:48 am
News
Crews respond to an apartment building structure fire
The blaze was reported by emergency dispatchers in the 5600 block of Noyes Avenue southeast around 8:30 pm.
May 28, 2023 - 10:55 am