Companies reach US wastewater facilities upgrade settlement

Total Environmental Solutions (TESI) and Utility Services have agreed to stop illegal sewage discharges in 18 wastewater facilities and wastewater collection and transmission systems in Mississippi, US.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Department of Justice and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality announced the proposed settlement with the two companies to address violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA).

TESI is liable for CWA violations at the Mississippi facilities as the company failed to properly operate and maintain the wastewater treatment facilities and wastewater collection and transmission systems.

Utility Services intends to purchase the facilities from TESI and then assume the company’s obligation to perform the injunctive relief required under the consent decree, at an estimated cost of $1.075m.

The proposed consent decree also requires TESI to pay a civil penalty of $225,000.

Keeping raw sewage out of water is one of the EPA’s national enforcement initiatives.

The proposed decree has been lodged in the US District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval.