EPA v. MEDFIELD TOWN OF

Case summary

On May 2, 2017, EPA entered into a Clean Water Act (CWA) administrative order on consent (Order) with the Town of Medfield, Massachusetts to address exceedances of the E-Coli Bacteria limit in its NPDES permit. E-Coli at high levels in recreational waters can lead to intestinal infections in humans. The Town discharges to the Charles River which is used for many recreational activities in the greater Boston area. The Town?s ultra violet (UV) disinfection system broke in the fall of 2016 and the Town was not able to repair it before the summer NPDES permit limits for E-Coli Bacteria went into effect on April 1st. The order requires the Town to operate a temporary chlorination and dechlorination system in order to meet its E-Coli limits, have the UV system back on line by July 1, 2017, and establishes a numeric interim limit for Total Residual Chlorine. EPA is responsible for implementing the CWA in Massachusetts, but the Region did work in close coordination with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection in this matter.

Defendants (1)

• MEDFIELD TOWN OFNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• MEDFIELD WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY

  197 WEST STREET, MEDFIELD, MA, 02052

  Registry ID: 110038211869

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• MEDFIELD TOWN OFentered 2017-05-03

  Primary law: CWA

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 2017-05-03Final Order Issued
• 2017-05-04Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2022-07-30NPDES Closed
• 2022-07-30Enforcement Action Closed