EPA v. GROVER DOMESTIC WATER WORKS

Case summary

GROVER IS A COMMUNITY PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM LOCATED IN LIN- COLN COUNTY, WYOMING. GROVER PROVIDES UNTREATED WATER FROM THREE SPRINGS TO 43 SERVICE CONNECTIONS WHICH SERVE ABOUT 150 PEOPLE. GROVER IS A CORPORATION INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF WYOMING. MR. BRUCE TURNER IS OPERATOR OF THE GROVER SYSTEM. THE SPRINGS UTILIZED BY GROVER APPEAR TO BE IMPROPERLY DEVELOPED AND NOT SUFFICIENTLY PROTECTED FROM SURFACE CON- TAMINATION. CATTLE GRAZE IN THE AREA OF THE SPRINGS. THERE ARE PERSISTENT BACTERIOLOGICAL WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS, THE SOURCE OF WHICH HAS NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY IDENTIFIED. NOT ONLY IS NO DISINFECTION PRACTICED, BUT GROVER IS STRONGLY OPPOSED TO DISINFECTION. THIS IS A PROPOSED CIVIL ACTION AGAINST GROVER AND TURNER FOR VIOLATION OF S1414(B) OF THE SDWA. DEFENDANTS ARE OWNER AND OPERATOR OF A PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM WHICH HAS EX- PERIENCED RECURRING VIOLATIONS OF THE MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL (MCL) FOR BACTERIA (40 CFR 141.14). THEY HAVE ALSO CONSISTENTLY FAILED TO: (1) MONITOR FOR MICROBIOLOGICAL CON- TAMINANTS (40 CFR 141.21), INORGANIC CHEMICALS (40 CFR 141.- 23), AND RADIONUCLIDES (40 CFR 141.26); (2) REPORT MONITOR- ING RESULTS TO EPA IN A TIMELY MANNER (40 CFR 141.31); (3) PROPERLY NOTIFY USERS OF FAILURE TO MEET REQUIREMENTS OF THE SDWA AND REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER (40 CFR 141.32); AND (4) KEEP APPROPRIATE RECORDS (40 CFR 141.33). THE REGION PROPOSES A REQUEST FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF TO RE- QUIRE THE DEFENDANTS TO COMPLY WITH THE SDWA AND THE NAT- IONAL INTERIM PRIMARY DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS (NIPDWR). ADDITIONALLY THE COURT IS REQUESTED TO ORDER DEFENDANTS TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO DETERMINE AND ELIMINATE THE CAUSE OF THE MICROBIOLOGICAL MCL VIOLATIONS. STIPULATED PENALTIES ARE SOUGHT FOR FUTURE VIOLATIONS AS WELL AS A CIVIL PENALTY OF ABOUT $1500 ($1000 PLUS THE COST SAVINGS OF THE FAILURE TO MONITOR).

Defendants (1)

• GROVER DOMESTIC WATERWORKSNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• GROVER DOMESTIC WATER WORKS

  E OF HWY 89 3 MI FROM TOWN, GROVER, WY, 83122

  Registry ID: 110010590707

Statutes cited

• SDWA 1414 — Safe Drinking Water Act

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• GROVER DOMESTIC WATERWORKSentered 1984-07-09

  Primary law: SDWA

  Federal penalty: $1

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1983-04-21Referred To Headquarters
• 1983-06-23Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1983-08-04Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1983-08-15Complaint Filed With Court
• 1984-07-09Final Order Lodged
• 1984-07-09Final Order Entered
• 1984-07-09Concluded
• 1987-10-01Enforcement Action Closed