DALLAS — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a penalty of $134,000 against the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) for violating the Clean Water Act, according to a press release.
EPA inspectors found sanitary sewer overflows and an excessive amount of e. Coli in the discharged effluent, noted the release. EPA cited the authority on Feb. 27 for the discharge of about six million gallons of sewage into the Rio Grande.
ABCWUA was ordered to correct the violations in March, stated the release. The organization can pursue a settlement with EPA.
Under the Clean Water Act, wastewater treatment plants must follow guidelines set in their required National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits, reported the release.
