The city of Austin paid $14,156 for exceeding wastewater permit limits 16 times over an eight-month period in 2024, according to a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) investigation. The city of Austin’s wastewater treatment plant discharged ammonia and fecal coliform over permitted limits into the Cedar River.
In addition to paying the penalty, the city agreed to complete the following actions, including the submission of:
- a plan describing improvements to the wastewater treatment plant to keep effluent results within permitted limits
- an updated individual control mechanism plan to prevent pollution
MPCA rules and regulations are designed to protect human health and the environment by limiting pollution emissions and discharges from facilities. When municipalities 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.