EPA v. Hartford MDC

Case summary

On June 26, 2025, the Court Entered a modification to the 2006 CD extending the deadline for completion of elimination of constructed SSOs from January 3, 2023, to December 31, 2026 and, incorporating a schedule for implementation of specific Inflow/Infiltration projects. The Metropolitan District Commission ( District ) is a non-profit municipal corporation created to provide its eight member Hartford-area municipalities with potable water and sanitary sewer services. The District provides sewage disposal services to approximately 400,000 people. In 2006, the United States and the State of Connecticut entered into a judicial Consent Decree with the District to address MDC's routine discharge of untreated sanitary sewage from eight constructed SSO outfalls from its separated sewers ( 2006 CD ). The delay in elimination of the constructed SSOs will allow the MDC to divert some resources to address basement backups and flooding in the North Hartford area. EPA has coordinated with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection on this action. On January 16, 2025, the Department of Justice lodged a proposed modification to the 2006 Consent Decree with the Metropolitan District Commission (District) extending the deadline to December 31, 2026 for completion of the elimination of constructed sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) and incorporating a schedule for implementation of specific Inflow/Infiltration projects. The District is a non-profit municipal corporation created to provide its eight member Hartford, Connecticut-area municipalities with potable water and sanitary sewer services. The District provides sewage disposal services to approximately 400,000 people. In 2006, the United States and the State of Connecticut entered into a judicial Consent Decree with the District to address the District's routine discharge of untreated sanitary sewage from eight constructed SSO outfalls from its separated sewers. The extension for the elimination of the constructed SSOs will allow the District to divert its resources to addressing the pressing need to address basement backups and flooding in the North Hartford area. EPA has coordinated with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection on this action. BY DISCHARGING SEWAGE FROM EIGHT DISCHARGE POINTS NOT AUTHORIZED BY ITS NPDES PERMIT, THE MDC VIOLATED SECTION 301(a) OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT.

Defendants (1)

• Hartford MDCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• HARTFORD WPCF

  240 BRAINARD ROAD, HARTFORD, CT, 06114

  Registry ID: 110010052904

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations

Enforcement conclusions (3)

• Hartford MDC

  Primary law: CWA

• Hartford MDCentered 2025-06-26

  Primary law: CWA

• Hartford MDCentered 2006-08-15

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $425,000 · State/local: $425,000

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 2004-06-02Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2004-09-30Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2004-09-30Referred To Headquarters
• 2006-05-11Complaint Filed With Court
• 2025-06-26Final Order Entered
• 2025-06-26Final Order Lodged