A New Jersey-based company, National Water Main Cleaning Company (NWMCC), has been sentenced for a felony violation of the Clean Water Act. The sentencing was announced by Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Kathryn Rivera, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division for New England. U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport handed down the sentence following NWMCC's unauthorized discharge of a pollutant into Cuff Brook during a project in Cheshire, Connecticut.
The incident occurred in July 2019 when NWMCC was refurbishing a large culvert pipe under Marion Road in Cheshire. The company discharged uncured geopolymer mortar into Cuff Brook, resulting in the death of over 150 fish and contamination of the waterway.
Judge Dooley sentenced NWMCC to three years of federal probation with environmental conditions and imposed a $500,000 federal penalty. Additionally, NWMCC is required to pay $500,000 to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) for aquatic ecosystem enhancement projects within the South Central Coastal Watershed.
Court documents revealed that NWMCC had submitted the lowest bid for the Cheshire project but failed to adhere to specifications requiring dry conditions and environmental controls during their work from July 15-18, 2019. Despite heavy rain on July 17, crews continued working without necessary precautions, leading to pollution in Cuff Brook.
The investigation showed that NWMCC knew its environmental controls were inadequate but did not address these issues during the project. The company attempted to place blame on an employee; however, findings indicated he was inadequately trained and unaware of the hazardous nature of uncured geopolymer mortar.
Further investigation highlighted deficiencies in NWMCC's environmental training program despite its business focus on infrastructure repair near public waterways. Moreover, a bonus policy encouraged rapid project completion at potentially increased environmental risk.
At the time of this incident, NWMCC was operating under a Code of Conduct due to a previous settlement with Massachusetts authorities over similar allegations.
NWMCC pleaded guilty on January 17, 2025. The case was investigated by several agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Criminal Investigation Division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen with support from EPA Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel Man Chak Ng.