WILLIAMSPORT – The Department of Environmental Protection has fined Total Environmental Solutions Inc. $3,000 for a raw sewage bypass last summer from the company’s sewage treatment plant that serves the Treasure Lake development in Sandy Township, Clearfield County.
“This raw sewage discharge caused significant pollution in an unnamed tributary of Gravel Lick Run for about one half mile,” said Northcentral Regional Director Robert Yowell. “It was caused by a lack of maintenance and accumulated debris that combined to obstruct the sewer line.”
Total Environmental Solutions discovered the problem on July 16 and reported it to DEP that day. A subsequent DEP investigation determined that an unknown amount of raw sewage had overflowed from a manhole and entered the unnamed tributary to Gravel Lick Run.
Since July, Total Environmental Solutions has secured high risk manholes, begun a manhole inspection program, and improved flow monitoring at its treatment plants to better detect unexpected flow changes or abnormalities.
The bypass was a violation of the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law, which prohibits unauthorized discharges of sewage to the waters of the commonwealth.
Total Environmental Solutions, based in Houma, LA, owns and operates two sewage treatment plants in Sandy Township.
The fine was paid to the Clean Water Fund, which is used to help pay for cleanups across the state.
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