EPA enforcement actions against wastewater plants in Pennsylvania
99 formal actions at 61 of 788 plants · $2.6M in penalties · 27 EPA inspections
EPA's enforcement records list 99 formal civil enforcement cases naming publicly owned wastewater treatment plants in Pennsylvania, 16 of them since fiscal year 2020. The cases involve 61 of the state's 788 plants, with $2.6 million in penalties assessed. The most common ground is clean water act (28 cases). EPA has inspected 21 plants in the state, 27 inspections in total. Every plant links to its profile, and every case to its report on EPA's ECHO site.
- All plants in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania NPDES permits
- EPA enforcement nationwide
- Analysis: enforcement since 2020
Recent enforcement actions in Pennsylvania
| Plant | Date | Type | Law section | Outcome | Penalty | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlisle Region Water Pollution Control Facility Carlisle | Sep 2026 FY2026 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order With Penalty | $1,500 | ECHO 07-2026-0197 |
EPA's description: “Facility overapplied biosolids resulting in agronomic rate being exceeded.” | ||||||
| Upper Gwynedd Twp STP North Wales | Jun 2026 FY2026 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order With Penalty | $16,000 | ECHO 03-2026-0064 |
EPA's description: “On May 19, 2026, Region 3 filed a Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO), simultaneously commencing and concluding an administrative enforcement action, against Upper Gwynedd Township for…” | ||||||
| City Of Erie, Pa - Wastewater Treatment Plant Erie | Jun 2026 FY2026 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 03-2026-0005 |
EPA's description: “On June 3, 2026, Region 3 filed an Administrative Order on Consent that requires the Erie City Sewer Authority and the City of Erie (Respondents) to correct violations of the CWA at the Respondents…” | ||||||
| Belle Vernon STP Belle Vernon | Mar 2026 FY2026 | Administrative order | National Drinking Water Regulations | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 03-2026-0149 |
| Allegheny Cnty Sani Auth/allegheny Cnty Pittsburgh | Mar 2026 FY2000 | Judicial case | Effluent Limitations - NPDES Toxic & Pretreatment Effluent Standards | Final Order Entered | $1.2M | ECHO 03-2000-0106 |
EPA's description: “On March 25, 2026, DOJ, on behalf of EPA Region 3, filed a Joint Status Report submitted by the United States and the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) which memorializes a minor…” | ||||||
| Girardville Area Mun Auth Girardville | Jan 2026 FY2026 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 03-2026-0071 |
EPA's description: “On January 21, 2026, in support of Pillar 1, Region 3 filed an Administrative Order on Consent to address NPDES permit violations at the Girardville Area Municipal Authority's Wastewater Treatment…” | ||||||
| Allegheny Cnty Sani Auth/allegheny Cnty Pittsburgh | Sep 2025 FY2025 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order With Penalty | $3,400 | ECHO 07-2025-0104 |
EPA's description: “Facility did not meet VAR requirements when biosolids were land applied.” | ||||||
| Carlisle Region Water Pollution Control Facility Carlisle | May 2025 FY2025 | Administrative order | Prevention of Accidental Release/Risk Management Plans (RMPs) | Final Order With Penalty | $2,640 | ECHO 03-2025-0042 |
EPA's description: “On May 15th, Region 3 filed an Expedited Settlement Agreement with the Borough of Carlisle's - Carlisle Region Water Pollution Control Facility; which is a municipally owned wastewater treatment…” | ||||||
| Kiski Vly Wpca STP Leechburg | Apr 2025 FY2025 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 03-2025-0046 |
EPA's description: “On April 15, 2025, Region III filed a Consent Agreement and Final Order regarding eighty-three (83) violations of FIFRA in connection with the distribution and/or sale of misbranded pesticides that…” | ||||||
| Corry City STP Corry | Dec 2024 FY2025 | Administrative order | NPDES Discharge without a Permit | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 03-2025-0011 |
EPA's description: “On December 20, 2024, the EPA, Region 3, issued an Administrative Order on Consent ( AOC ) to the City of Corry ( City ) and The Municipal Authority of the City of Corry ( Authority ), to correct…” | ||||||
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Largest penalties in Pennsylvania
| # | Plant | Date | Type | Outcome | Penalty | Compliance actions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allegheny Cnty Sani Auth/allegheny Cnty Pittsburgh | Mar 2026 FY2000 | Judicial case | Final Order Entered | $1.2M | $1,400M | ECHO 03-2000-0106 |
| 2 | Williamsport Sanitary Authority - West Plant Williamsport | Feb 2016 FY2007 | Judicial case | Final Order With Penalty | $320,000 | $19M | ECHO 03-2007-0341 |
| 3 | Reading STP Reading | Jun 2023 FY2002 | Judicial case | Final Order With Penalty | $239,000 | $53M | ECHO 03-2002-0246 |
| 4 | University Area Joint Authority/spring Creek Pollution Control Fac. State College | Jan 1991 FY1989 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $70,000 | — | ECHO 03-1989-0754 |
| 5 | Wastewater Treatment Plant Bellefonte | Apr 1991 FY1988 | Judicial case | Final Order With Penalty | $64,000 | — | ECHO 03-1988-0433 |
| 6 | Johnstown Wastewater Treatment Plant Johnstown | Mar 2011 FY2011 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $60,000 | $14,647 | ECHO 03-2011-0091 |
| 7 | City Of Allentown Wastewater Treatment Plant Allentown | Jul 1993 FY1991 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $60,000 | — | ECHO 03-1991-0157 |
| 8 | City Of Allentown Wastewater Treatment Plant Allentown | Aug 2018 FY2018 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $50,000 | $50,000 | ECHO 03-2018-0103 |
| 9 | Milton Wastewater Treatment Plant Milton | Sep 1990 FY1990 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $50,000 | — | ECHO 03-1990-0352 |
| 10 | Kiski Vly Wpca STP Leechburg | Aug 1995 FY1994 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $45,000 | — | ECHO 03-1994-0154 |
Actions by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Formal actions | Penalties |
|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 1 | $50,000 |
| FY2019 | 0 | — |
| FY2020 | 0 | — |
| FY2021 | 0 | — |
| FY2022 | 2 | $45,000 |
| FY2023 | 2 | — |
| FY2024 | 3 | $27,500 |
| FY2025 | 4 | $6,040 |
| FY2026 | 5 | $17,500 |
| FY2027 | 0 | — |
EPA fiscal years run from 1 October to 30 September. The current year is partial.
EPA enforcement in Pennsylvania: questions
How many EPA enforcement actions have been taken against wastewater plants in Pennsylvania?
EPA's enforcement records list 99 formal civil enforcement cases naming publicly owned wastewater treatment plants in Pennsylvania, 16 of them since fiscal year 2020. They involve 61 of the state's 788 plants. Informal actions such as notices of violation are not counted here.
Which Pennsylvania wastewater plant received the largest EPA penalty?
Allegheny Cnty Sani Auth/allegheny Cnty in Pittsburgh: $1.2 million assessed in fiscal year 2000 (ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY (ALCOSAN), Final Order Entered). 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 Pennsylvania is from Sep 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: Sep 2026.
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