CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — The City of Chillicothe is seeking a $90,000 appropriation to fund sludge treatment at the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in response to ongoing compliance issues with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The funding is intended to cover two additional sludge treatments necessary to meet EPA requirements, each costing $41,700 plus mobilization.
The move comes after the city received a second notice of violation from the Ohio EPA’s Division of Surface Water (DSW). The notice outlines several ongoing issues at the WWTP, including non-compliance with ammonia limits specified in the plant’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. Despite previous corrective measures outlined in response to an earlier Notice of Violation (NOV) issued in January 2024, the facility has continued to exceed ammonia limits and accumulate further violations.
The specific issues highlighted by the EPA include:
- Ammonia Effluent Limit Violations: The WWTP has repeatedly failed to meet ammonia limits from June 2023 through May 2024, placing the facility in significant non-compliance with state regulations and its NPDES permit.
- Lack of Operator of Record: The plant currently lacks a Class III Operator, a requirement under state regulations and the plant’s permit.
- Failure to Submit Report: The city did not submit the June 2024 Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR), a violation of permit requirements.
The Ohio EPA has requested a detailed report from the city on actions taken to address these violations within 21 days and has warned that failure to comply could result in administrative or civil penalties. The city has been instructed to hire or contract a Class III operator and to submit the missing report as soon as possible.
In addition to these issues, the city is also grappling with contamination concerns linked to the former Wear-Ever facility. The Guardian previously reported on the extent of contamination from this site, which includes toxic compounds such as Lead, Cadmium, TCE (trichloroethylene), Benzene, and Vinyl Chloride. The EPA’s cleanup order identified these substances as significant pollutants, with TCE contamination found in groundwater near the WWTP.
Environmental group “Wear-Ever Exposed” has investigated the impact of these contaminants, linking them to health issues among former workers, including various cancers and pulmonary ailments. The EPA’s investigation revealed a large TCE groundwater plume extending towards the Scioto River and other local sites. Although drinking water for most residents is not affected, those with private wells may still be at risk.
The EPA continues to monitor remediation efforts at the Wear-Ever site, which have been ongoing for years. Recent groundwater monitoring reports indicate that TCE levels remain elevated, highlighting ongoing environmental and public health concerns. The Mayor’s Office never responded to our requests for comment on the concerns about contamination from the Wear-Ever site.