EPA enforcement actions against wastewater plants in California
38 formal actions at 26 of 193 plants · $2.4M in penalties · 42 EPA inspections
EPA's enforcement records list 38 formal civil enforcement cases naming publicly owned wastewater treatment plants in California, 6 of them since fiscal year 2020. The cases involve 26 of the state's 193 plants, with $2.4 million in penalties assessed. The most common ground is prevention of accidental release/risk management plans (rmps) (11 cases). EPA has inspected 20 plants in the state, 42 inspections in total. Every plant links to its profile, and every case to its report on EPA's ECHO site.
- All plants in California
- California NPDES permits
- EPA enforcement nationwide
- Analysis: enforcement since 2020
Recent enforcement actions in California
| Plant | Date | Type | Law section | Outcome | Penalty | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Of Alturas Wastewater Treatment Plant Alturas | Feb 2026 FY2026 | Administrative order | Prevention of Accidental Release/Risk Management Plans (RMPs) | Final Order With Penalty | $1,400 | ECHO 09-2026-3546 |
EPA's description: “CAA 112(r) filed Expedited Settlement Agreement for the City of Alturas Wastewater Treatment Plant. The case concerns a late Risk Management Plant submission (80 days late). Additionally, the…” | ||||||
| Ironhouse Sd WWTP Oakley | Sep 2025 FY2025 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order With Penalty | $1,500 | ECHO 07-2025-0102 |
EPA's description: “Facility did not meet VAR requirements when biosolids were land applied.” | ||||||
| Ccsf- Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant San Francisco | Apr 2025 FY2017 | Judicial case | NPDES Permit Violations | Complaint Filed | — | ECHO 09-2017-1505 |
| Southern Marin WWTP Mill Valley | Nov 2024 FY2008 | Administrative order | NPDES Discharge without a Permit | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 09-2008-1506 |
EPA's description: “This is an Administrative Order (AO) for compliance pursuant to CWA 309(a) issued to Sewerage Agency of Southern Marin, Almonte Sanitary District, Alto Sanitary District, City of Mill Valley,…” | ||||||
| Hyperion Treatment Plant Playa Del Rey | Mar 2024 FY2024 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Default Order, No Penalty | — | ECHO 09-2024-1502 |
EPA's description: “Administrative order on consent regarding sanitary sewer overflow on July 11th, 2021. Order requires system upgrades.” | ||||||
| California Mens Colony San Luis Obispo | Sep 2023 FY2023 | Administrative order | NPDES Discharge without a Permit | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 09-2023-1505 |
EPA's description: “This is an Administrative Order on Consent with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the California Men's Colony (CMC) to address violations of Clean Water Act NPDES…” | ||||||
| White Slough WPCF Lodi | Jan 2022 FY2021 | Administrative order | Sewage Sludge Disposal | Final Order With Penalty | $4,500 | ECHO 07-2021-0064 |
| Lompoc Wastewater Plant Lompoc | Sep 2020 FY2020 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 09-2020-1506 |
EPA's description: “Section 309(a) of the Clean Water Act ( CWA or the Act ), 33 U.S.C. Section 1319(a), provides that, whenever the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) finds that any person is in violation of…” | ||||||
| Sacramento County Wastewater Treatment Plant Elk Grove | Sep 2018 FY2018 | Administrative order | Notification of Hazardous Reportable Quantity Release | Final Order With Penalty | $37,830 | ECHO 09-2018-3506 |
EPA's description: “This is a Consent Agreement and Final Order (CA/FO) negotiated between the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, and the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District…” | ||||||
| East Bay Mud Main WWTP Oakland | Apr 2018 FY2014 | Judicial case | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order With Penalty | $1.3M | ECHO 09-2014-1503 |
EPA's description: “For violations under the Clean Water Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reached a settlement with the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) and seven East Bay communities to conduct…” | ||||||
Full case histories, milestones, violation types and EPA's complete case summaries for every plant are shown with a free Klarifi account. Create one
Largest penalties in California
| # | Plant | Date | Type | Outcome | Penalty | Compliance actions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Bay Mud Main WWTP Oakland | Apr 2018 FY2014 | Judicial case | Final Order With Penalty | $1.3M | $1,500M | ECHO 09-2014-1503 |
| 2 | Hyperion Treatment Plant Playa Del Rey | Aug 2000 FY1986 | Judicial case | Final Order With Penalty | $625,000 | — | ECHO 09-1986-0021 |
| 3 | Joint Water Pollution Control Plant Carson | Oct 1994 FY1991 | Judicial case | Final Order With Penalty | $300,000 | — | ECHO 09-1991-0028 |
| 4 | East Bay Mud Main WWTP Oakland | Sep 2015 FY2015 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $99,900 | — | ECHO 09-2015-5010 |
| 5 | Sacramento County Wastewater Treatment Plant Elk Grove | Sep 2018 FY2018 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $37,830 | $62M | ECHO 09-2018-3506 |
| 6 | Joint Water Pollution Control Plant Carson | Aug 1991 FY1988 | Judicial case | Litigated With Penalty | $22,500 | — | ECHO 09-1988-0023 |
| 7 | Hyperion Treatment Plant Playa Del Rey | Sep 2010 FY2010 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $10,900 | — | ECHO 09-2010-3515 |
| 8 | White Slough WPCF Lodi | Jan 2022 FY2021 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $4,500 | — | ECHO 07-2021-0064 |
| 9 | South County Regional Wastewat Gilroy | Sep 2014 FY2014 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $2,000 | $3,000 | ECHO 09-2014-1003 |
| 10 | Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority Victorville | Sep 2010 FY2010 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $2,000 | — | ECHO 09-2010-3548 |
Actions by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Formal actions | Penalties |
|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 1 | $37,830 |
| FY2019 | 0 | — |
| FY2020 | 1 | — |
| FY2021 | 1 | $4,500 |
| FY2022 | 0 | — |
| FY2023 | 1 | — |
| FY2024 | 1 | — |
| FY2025 | 1 | $1,500 |
| FY2026 | 1 | $1,400 |
| FY2027 | 0 | — |
EPA fiscal years run from 1 October to 30 September. The current year is partial.
EPA enforcement in California: questions
How many EPA enforcement actions have been taken against wastewater plants in California?
EPA's enforcement records list 38 formal civil enforcement cases naming publicly owned wastewater treatment plants in California, 6 of them since fiscal year 2020. They involve 26 of the state's 193 plants. Informal actions such as notices of violation are not counted here.
Which California wastewater plant received the largest EPA penalty?
East Bay Mud Main WWTP in Oakland: $1.3 million assessed in fiscal year 2014 (EBMUD & Satellites Consolidated CD CWA 402, Final Order With Penalty). Penalties are the amounts EPA records as assessed or agreed, not necessarily what was collected.
What does an EPA administrative order mean for a wastewater plant?
Most cases here are administrative orders under section 309 of the Clean Water Act: EPA finds permit violations, usually effluent limits or discharge without a permit, and orders the plant to return to compliance, often with a corrective action plan, a schedule and sometimes a penalty. Judicial cases go through the Department of Justice and typically end in a consent decree with a capital programme behind it. The latest case in California is from Feb 2026.
Enforcement data: EPA ICIS-FE&C civil enforcement cases and ICIS compliance inspections, via ECHO. Penalties are the amounts assessed or agreed in each case as EPA records them. Latest case status in this data: Feb 2026.
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