BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Dec. 19 that the city of West Haven, Connecticut, has agreed to make changes to its storm water system, ensuring the protection of local waterways.
"Protecting our waterways means not only stopping direct discharges of sewage overflows from sanitary systems, but also protecting our rivers, ponds, lakes and streams from contaminated runoff by adequately managing storm water," said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA's New England office. "We appreciate that the city of West Haven is going to focus its efforts on addressing both these important programs."
West Haven first agreed in 2014 to make changes to reduce allegedly illegal sanitary sewer overflow discharges as part of a consent agreement with the EPA. In April 2015, the EPA found purported instances of the City failing to properly follow through with the arrangement. The two parties have now amended the 2014 agreement to include stormwater system upgrades.
"West Haven's additional measures to ensure compliance with the Clean Water Act benefit all of us," said U.S. attorney Deirdre M. Daly. "We are thankful for each opportunity to partner with the EPA and the state of Connecticut in an effort to ensure and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the waters of this State."