EPA v. EDGECOMBE WATER & SEWER DISTRICT

Case summary

MAY 04, 2026 - ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLIANCE ORDER This Administrative Compliance Order ( Order ) is issued to Edgecombe Water & Sewer District ( Respondent ) pursuant to the authority vested in the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) by Section 1414(g) of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( SDWA ), 42 U.S.C 300g-3(g). The Administrator has delegated this authority to the Regional Administrator of EPA Region 4, who has, in turn, delegated this authority to the Director of the Enforcement Compliance and Assurance Division. Respondent owns and/or operates the Edgecombe Water & Sewer District public water system (PWS), located in Tarboro, Edgecombe County, North Carolina, as defined by Section 1401(4) of the SDWA, 42 U.S.C. 300f(4), and 40 C.F.R. 141.2. Respondent's ownership and/or operation of the System makes it a supplier of water within the meaning of Section 1401(5) of the SDWA, 42 U.S.C. 300f(5), and 40 C.F.R. 141.2. Respondent's PWS provides piped water for human consumption and regularly serves at least 15 service connections and/or at least 25 residents and is therefore a community water system (CWS) as defined by Section 1401(15) of the SDWA, 42 U.S.C. 300f(15), and 40 C.F.R. 141.2. On October 23, 2018, the SDWA was amended in accordance with the America's Water Infrastructure Act ( AWIA ) of 2018 (Public Law 115-270). In relevant part, AWIA added Section 1433 to the SDWA, 42 U.S.C. 300i-2(a). Section 1433(a) of the SDWA, 42 U.S.C. 300i-2(a), requires a CWS serving a population of greater than 3,300 persons to conduct a Risk and Resilience Assessment ( RRA ) of its system. Section 1433(a)(3)(A)(iii) of the SDWA, 42 U.S.C. 300i-2(a)(3)(A)(iii), requires a CWS serving between 3,301 to 49,999 persons to submit its certification to the EPA Administrator that it conducted its RRA on or before June 30, 2021. Respondent's deadline for submitting certification to the EPA Administrator that the ERP has been completed and/or revised was December 31, 2021. 42 U.S.C. 300i-2(b). Respondent's CWS serves a population between 3,301 and 49,999 people. Based on a review of Section 1433 certifications in the EPA's Cross-Media Electronic Reporting ( CROMERR ) database, Respondent certified completion of its RRA and ERP on April 6, 2021. On October 30, 2025, EPA completed an inspection of Respondent's public water system. EPA inspectors reviewed Respondent's ERP, pursuant to Section 1433(d) of the SDWA. During the inspection, the EPA inspection team requested that Respondent produce its Risk and Resilience Assessment (RRA), which it was required to maintain pursuant to Section 1433(d) of the SDWA. Despite having certified to the EPA that it had completed a RRA, Respondent was unable to produce the RRA during the inspection. Therefore, the EPA alleges that Respondent failed to comply with Section 1433(a) of the SDWA, 42 U.S.C. 300i-2(a), for failure to prepare and certify its RRA. Based on the FINDINGS, and pursuant to the authority of Section 1414(g) of the SDWA, 42 U.S.C. 300g-3(g), the EPA is issuing this Order, to place the Respondent on an enforceable schedule to comply with Section 1433 of the SDWA, 42 U.S.C. 300i-2. The EPA hereby ORDERS: Within 30 days of the Effective Date of this Order, Respondent shall develop a RRA which includes all of the requirements of this Order. Within 30 days of the Effective Date of this Order, Respondent shall schedule a meeting with EPA to present evidence of the completed RRA. At the time of the meeting and in the presence of EPA, Respondent shall also submit evidence of its certification for the completion of its RRA, as required by Section 1433(a) of the SDWA, to the EPA Administrator.

Defendants (1)

• EDGECOMBE WATER & SEWER DISTRICTNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• EDGECOMBE WATER & SEWER DISTRICT

  NC

  Registry ID: 110012912553

Statutes cited

• SDWA 1433 — Intentional Acts

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• EDGECOMBE WATER & SEWER DISTRICTentered 2026-05-04

  Primary law: SDWA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2026-05-04Final Order Issued
• 2026-06-25Enforcement Action Data Entered