Lakes Concrete Plus, Inc., a Bemidji septic tank manufacturer, paid $25,000 in fines for selling 1,500-gallon and 2,000-gallon septic tanks from 2019 to 2022 that may contain weep holes, a violation of Minnesota law. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) investigation found that the Lakes Concrete Plus tanks had weep holes drilled in them to drain rainwater from the tanks while they are stored to prevent freezing. Lakes Concrete Plus sealed the weep holes before installation, but the septic industry identified that weep holes in septic tanks could not be adequately sealed and last for the entire life of the tank. Minnesota septic tank rules prohibit weep holes in septic tanks.
In addition to paying the fine, Lakes Concrete Plus will:
- offer to replace tanks bought with weep holes
- commit to prevent future violations
The MPCA remains committed to protecting human health and the environment by enforcing rules and regulations and limiting pollution and discharges from facilities. When facilities do not fully comply with regulatory requirements, the resulting pollution can be harmful to people and the environment.
When calculating penalties, the MPCA considers how seriously the violations affected or could have affected the environment, and whether they were first-time or repeat violations. The agency also attempts to recover the economic benefit the company gained by failing to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner.