COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to the Village of Williamsport, citing the village’s wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) for violations of environmental regulations.
The NOV details 28 instances of effluent limit exceedances and one code violation that occurred between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023. The exceedances involved Total Suspended Solids (TSS), CBOD (Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand), pH levels, and Chlorine Residual. These substances are monitored to ensure the treated wastewater meets environmental safety standards before being released into the environment.
According to the EPA, the WWTP has been in “Significant Non-Compliance” (SNC) for TSS and CBOD since July 2023. The agency attributes this to issues with inflow/infiltration (I/I) and increased flow during wet weather events, which can overwhelm the plant’s treatment capacity and lead to inefficiencies. The Village Council approved a resolution in 2019 for a sewer rehabilitation project to address these concerns, but further action is needed.
The EPA has requested a plan from the Village outlining steps to restore compliance with the regulations.
The NOV also identified discrepancies in how the WWTP collects samples. The facility reportedly uses grab samples instead of composite samples, which are required by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The EPA has urged the Village to develop a plan to implement composite sampling where applicable and acquire or utilize a composite sampler if necessary.
The Village has 30 days to submit documentation demonstrating corrective actions taken or planned to address the violations. The EPA has warned that failure to comply could result in administrative or civil penalties.
The notice of violation can be viewed by clicking the link below: https://edocpub.epa.ohio.gov/publicportal/ViewDocument.aspx?docid=2754627
