EPA v. PRASA 3

Case summary

TWO FACILITIES, PULGUILLAS WATER TREATMENT PLANT (WTP) AND CARITE WTP ARE DISCHARGING FILTER BACKWASH WITHOUT A NPDES PERMIT. EIGHT OTHER WTPS OWNED BY DEFENDANT ARE IN VIOLATION OF THEIR NPDES PERMITS' EFFLUENT LIMITS. ON MARCH 31, 1999, 64 ADDITIONAL FACILITIES WERE ADDED AND CWA/309. TOTAL FACILITIES NOW 73. CD entered on 08/24/2010, EA# 02-2004-0012, supercedes prior CD, requiring PRASA to come into and remain in full compliance with the CWA, and the terms/conditions of its NPDES permit.

Defendants (2)

• PUERTO RICO AQUEDUCT AND SEWER AUTHORITYNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• PURETO RICO, THE COMMONWEALTH OFNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (87)

• CEIBA SUR FILTRATION PLANT

  STATE RD #9935 KM 1.5, JUNCOS, PR, 00666

  Registry ID: 110000576038

• PRASA WTP GUAYABOTA

  ROAD 3 R-900, KM 9.9, YABUCOA, PR, 00767

  Registry ID: 110009700323

• PRASA WTP RIO BLANCO

  ROAD 31, KM 9.4, NAQUABO, PR, 00718

  Registry ID: 110009815094

• PRASA WTP COROZAL

  RD 159 KM 11.5 CIBUCO WARD, COROZAL, PR, 00783

  Registry ID: 110009814996

• PRASA HAMEYES ABAJO FILTER PLT

  STATE RD 141 KM 19.1, UTUARDO, PR, 00761

  Registry ID: 110013695750

• PRASA MAMEYES ARRIBA FILTER PL

  STATE RD. #530, KM 4.1, JAYUYA, PR, 00664

  Registry ID: 110035859693

• PRASA WTP CEDRO ARRIBA PLANT

  STATE RD 779, INT. RD 152 KM 9.9, NARANJITO, PR, 00719

  Registry ID: 110009815003

• PRASA PONCE GUARAGUAO FILTRATION

  STATE RD 10 KM 24.4, PONCE, PR, 00731

  Registry ID: 110013696205

• PRASA WTP BARRANCAS

  ROAD 771, KM 5.3, BARRANQUITAS, PR, 00794

  Registry ID: 110013688018

• PR AQUEDUCT SEWER AUTH-RAMEY FILTER PLT

  CARR 467 CALLEJON FELICIANO, AGUADILLA, PR, 00604

  Registry ID: 110004889201

• PRASA WTP PTA VIEJA PONCE

  BORINQUEN WARD, PRINCIPAL ST., PONCE, PR, 00731

  Registry ID: 110000719848

• PRASA QUEBRADA GRANDE FILTER PLANT

  CARR 31 R 948 KM 2.2, JUNCOS, PR, 00777

  Registry ID: 110004889194

• PRASA WTP CIDRA FILTRATION PLT

  ROAD 173, KM 3.3, CIDRA, PR, 00639

  Registry ID: 110028184097

• PRASA WTP UTUADO

  STATE ROAD 111, KM 5.4, UTUADO, PR, 00641

  Registry ID: 110009814923

• PRASA AQUEDUCT SEWER AUTH

  CARR 128 KM 38.0, LARES, PR, 00669

  Registry ID: 110010583804

• …and 72 more

Statutes cited

• SDWA 1414 — Safe Drinking Water Act
• SDWA 1412/1414 — National Drinking Water Regulations
• CWA 402 — Clean Water Act
• CWA 309 — Violation of Existing AO
• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• PRASAentered 2001-01-23

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $550,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1998-09-30Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1998-10-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2000-12-08Final Order Lodged
• 2000-12-08Complaint Filed With Court
• 2001-01-23Final Order Entered
• 2001-01-23Concluded
• 2010-08-24Enforcement Action Closed