TOLEDO, Ohio — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency announced they have agreed to drop the settlement with the City of Port Clinton, saying it has completed all required actions to upgrade its water system.
What You Need To Know
The settlement dates back to 1999
The EPA, DOJ and the State of Ohio entered into one with the city for allegedly violating the Clean Water Act along with frequent combined sewer overflows
Port Clinton has met the requirements of the settlement, which means it’s now lifted
The settlement dates back to 1999, when the EPA, DOJ and the State of Ohio entered into one with the city for allegedly violating the Clean Water Act along with frequent combined sewer overflows.
The EPA said when there was heavy rainfall or flooding, the runoff would overflow, which would cause untreated stormwater and wasterwater into nearby waterways. This could result in residents being exposed to harmful bacteria and parasites, and it also endangered the Lake Erie watershed.
As part of the settlement, the city was required to create and implement a long-term control plan for its wastewater treatment plan. The city needed to build a collection system that would get rid of sewer overflows, and at the same time, the improvements needed to meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act.
Since then, the city has invested millions in upgrades. The construction of all projects in the long-term control plan have been completed, and the city has eliminated all but one of the combined sewers.
For that one combined sewer, the city has implemented a duckbill valve that prevents flow unless authorized.
Because of these changes, the city has met all requirements to close the settlement.
The city invested millions in upgrades and completed construction of all projects associated with the long-term control plan. With the upgrades in place, the city has eliminated all but one of its combined sewers. For the combined sewer that remains, the city installed a duckbill valve that prevents flow except as authorized by permit. As a result of these measures, the city has achieved and maintained compliance with all provisions of the consent decree and its permit, meeting the qualifications to close the settlement.
“Today’s action recognizes Port Clinton’s completion of its long-term wastewater upgrades and underscores our shared commitment to protecting Lake Erie,” said EPA Regional Administrator Anne Vogel. “By dramatically reducing combined sewer overflows and strengthening safeguards for the remaining outfall, the city is delivering cleaner water, safer beaches, and healthier habitats for the people and wildlife that depend on the lake.”
Port Clinton’s Mayor Mike Snider said the city felt it had a responsibility to be a steward of Lake Erie, as it’s one of the communities along the shore.
“The lifting of the consent decree is going to open the doors for opportunities in the City of Port Clinton, and we will continue to plan for the future of the wastewater treatment plant and the of growth of our community,” said Snider.