EPA enforcement actions against wastewater plants in Connecticut
20 formal actions at 14 of 54 plants · $806,380 in penalties · 14 EPA inspections
EPA's enforcement records list 20 formal civil enforcement cases naming publicly owned wastewater treatment plants in Connecticut, 0 of them since fiscal year 2020. The cases involve 14 of the state's 54 plants, with $806,380 in penalties assessed. The most common ground is npdes permit violations (10 cases). EPA has inspected 6 plants in the state, 14 inspections in total. Every plant links to its profile, and every case to its report on EPA's ECHO site.
- All plants in Connecticut
- Connecticut NPDES permits
- EPA enforcement nationwide
- Analysis: enforcement since 2020
Recent enforcement actions in Connecticut
| Plant | Date | Type | Law section | Outcome | Penalty | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stratford Water Pollution Control Facility Stratford | Jun 2023 FY2010 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 01-2010-2006 |
EPA's description: “On 6/24/10, EPA issued a CWA administrative order to the Town of Stratford, CT for its failure to report bypasses of its collection system to the CT DEP as required by its NPDES Permit.” | ||||||
| Greenwich WPCF Greenwich | Mar 2023 FY2009 | Judicial case | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order With Penalty | $250,000 | ECHO 01-2009-2031 |
EPA's description: “Region I transmitted to OECA a Consent Decree that the Town of Greenwich, Connecticut (Town) has executed to resolve claims for violations of the Clean Water Act and the Town=s NPDES permit. On…” | ||||||
| Norwalk WPCF East Norwalk | Sep 2022 FY2017 | Administrative order | NPDES Discharge without a Permit | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 01-2017-2018 |
EPA's description: “The Order addresses the City's unauthorized discharges of sewage from its sanitary sewer collection system ('Collection System') to waters of the United States and certain discharges from the…” | ||||||
| New Canaan Wastewater Treatment Plant New Canaan | Jan 2021 FY2008 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 01-2008-2077 |
EPA's description: “Since June 2004, the Town has marginally, but consistently violated its total zinc monthly average and daily maximum concentration limits. The Order requires the Town to summarize its past efforts to…” | ||||||
| Shelton Water Pollution Control Facility Shelton | Oct 2018 FY2004 | Judicial case | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order With Penalty | $142,000 | ECHO 01-2004-2075 |
| Meriden Water Pollution Control Facility Meriden | Sep 2018 FY2018 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 01-2018-2025 |
EPA's description: “On September 08, 2018, the Region issued an Administrative Order ( Order ) to the City of Meriden, Connecticut. The Order addresses the City's unauthorized discharges of sewage from its sanitary…” | ||||||
| Norwalk WPCF East Norwalk | Aug 2017 FY2010 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Superseded by Another Enforcement Action | — | ECHO 01-2010-2056 |
EPA's description: “An administrative order (Order) was issued to the City for violations of the Clean Water Act associated with its unauthorized discharge of pollutants from locations in its Collection System that…” | ||||||
| Westside Water Pollution Control Facility Bridgeport and 1 other plant named in the case | Aug 2016 FY2016 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 01-2016-2025 |
EPA's description: “On August 25, 2016, the Region issued a Clean Water Act order on consent (AOC) to the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut addressing ongoing sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). Since June 2011, on at least…” | ||||||
| Danbury Water Pollution Control Facility Danbury | Nov 2011 FY2011 | Administrative order | SPCC and/or Federal Response Plan Violations | Final Order With Penalty | $30,000 | ECHO 01-2011-2020 |
EPA's description: “On November 3, 2011, Region 1 filed a Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO) (Docket Number CWA-01-2010-0079) resolving Clean Water Act (CWA) violations against the City of Danbury, CT. In its…” | ||||||
| Stamford Water Pollution Control Facility Stamford | Aug 2011 FY2011 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order With Penalty | $26,000 | ECHO 01-2011-2021 |
EPA's description: “On August 19, 2011, Region 1 filed a consent agreement and final order (CAFO) resolving Clean Water Act violations against the City of Stamford, Connecticut and its water pollution control authority…” | ||||||
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 Connecticut
| # | Plant | Date | Type | Outcome | Penalty | Compliance actions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenwich WPCF Greenwich | Mar 2002 FY1999 | Judicial case | Final Order With Penalty | $285,000 | $1M | ECHO 01-1999-0077 |
| 2 | Greenwich WPCF Greenwich | Mar 2023 FY2009 | Judicial case | Final Order With Penalty | $250,000 | $11M | ECHO 01-2009-2031 |
| 3 | Shelton Water Pollution Control Facility Shelton | Oct 2018 FY2004 | Judicial case | Final Order With Penalty | $142,000 | $4M | ECHO 01-2004-2075 |
| 4 | Portland Water Pollution Control Facility Portland | Feb 1998 FY1997 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $33,300 | $2,000 | ECHO 01-1997-0099 |
| 5 | Danbury Water Pollution Control Facility Danbury | Nov 2011 FY2011 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $30,000 | — | ECHO 01-2011-2020 |
| 6 | Stamford Water Pollution Control Facility Stamford | Aug 2011 FY2011 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $26,000 | — | ECHO 01-2011-2021 |
| 7 | Litchfield WPCF Bantam | Feb 1998 FY1997 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $16,700 | $2,000 | ECHO 01-1997-0220 |
| 8 | Meriden Water Pollution Control Facility Meriden | Dec 1997 FY1997 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $12,000 | — | ECHO 01-1997-0018 |
| 9 | Meriden Water Pollution Control Facility Meriden | Apr 2002 FY2002 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $4,000 | $5,000 | ECHO 01-2002-0043 |
| 10 | Danbury Water Pollution Control Facility Danbury | Jul 2007 FY2007 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $3,650 | $300 | ECHO 01-2007-1510 |
Actions by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Formal actions | Penalties |
|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 1 | — |
| FY2019 | 0 | — |
| FY2020 | 0 | — |
| FY2021 | 0 | — |
| FY2022 | 0 | — |
| FY2023 | 0 | — |
| FY2024 | 0 | — |
| FY2025 | 0 | — |
| FY2026 | 0 | — |
| FY2027 | 0 | — |
EPA fiscal years run from 1 October to 30 September. The current year is partial.
EPA enforcement in Connecticut: questions
How many EPA enforcement actions have been taken against wastewater plants in Connecticut?
EPA's enforcement records list 20 formal civil enforcement cases naming publicly owned wastewater treatment plants in Connecticut, 0 of them since fiscal year 2020. They involve 14 of the state's 54 plants. Informal actions such as notices of violation are not counted here.
Which Connecticut wastewater plant received the largest EPA penalty?
Greenwich WPCF in Greenwich: $285,000 assessed in fiscal year 1999 (GREENWICH CENTRAL STP, 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 Connecticut is from Jun 2023.
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: Jun 2023.
Try Klarifi for free
Create your own trial account and explore how Klarifi can help you.