According to a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) enforcement investigation, Springsteel Island Sanitary District discharged phosphorus at levels that exceeded its permit on more than 30 occasions since 2013. The district operates a municipal wastewater treatment facility near Warroad, Minn.
The facility discharges to a nearby wetland that flows into Lake of the Woods, which is on the MPCA’s list of impaired waters for nutrients, namely phosphorus. An MPCA staff inspection also discovered that the facility failed to comply with permitted effluent limits and lacked a required phosphorus management plan.
In addition to paying a $10,000 civil penalty to the MPCA, Springsteel Island Sanitary District is completing a series of corrective actions, including:
- Submitting a statement describing how effluent violations will be investigated and prevented in the future.
- Hiring a professional engineer to conduct evaluations to identify any upgrades or repairs needed to meet effluent limits, including exploring connecting to the City of Warroad sanitary sewer system.
- Submitting an enhanced phosphorus management plan.
- Examining if the current contract with their operator is sufficient to allow time to effectively operate the facility.
- Submitting a plan of action moving forward, including timelines and funding sources, for MPCA review and approval.
MPCA rules and regulations are designed to protect human health and the environment by limiting pollution emissions and discharges from facilities. When companies do not fully comply with regulatory requirements, the resulting pollution can be harmful to people and the environment.
When calculating penalties, the MPCA takes into account 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.
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