EPA v. BRIDGEWATER WWTP

Case summary

On April 6, 2017, EPA entered into an administrative order on consent (Order) with the Town of Bridgewater, Massachusetts in which it agreed to a $31 million upgrade to its treatment plant to meet nitrogen limits in five years and meet phosphorus limits in 10 years. Too much nitrogen and phosphorus in the water causes algae to grow faster than ecosystems can handle. Significant increases in algae harm water quality, food resources and habitats, and decrease the oxygen that fish and other aquatic life need to survive. On September 30, 2016, EPA issued a Clean Water Act NPDES Permit to the Town of Bridgewater which authorized the Town to discharge pollutants from its wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) subject to the effluent limitations, monitoring requirements and other conditions specified in the NPDES Permit. On November 4, 2016, the Town filed a petition for review with the Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) seeking review of the Permit?s effluent limits for nitrogen, phosphorus, and pH, as well as the five-year compliance schedule to upgrade nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) controls and monitoring requirements. This Order resolves that appeal. EPA implements the NPDES program in Massachusetts, but has worked in close coordination with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection in this matter.

Defendants (1)

• BRIDGEWATER TOWN OFNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• BRIDGEWATER W W T F

  MORRIS AVE, BRIDGEWATER, MA, 02324

  Registry ID: 110006618801

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• BRIDGEWATER WWTPentered 2017-04-06

  Primary law: CWA

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2017-04-06Final Order Issued
• 2017-04-06Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2017-04-10Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2023-04-01Enforcement Action Closed
• 2023-04-01NPDES Closed