City of Portland issued $13,800 penalty by DEQ for wastewater violations
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued a $13,800 civil penalty to the City of Portland for exceedances of chlorine and pH in discharges of waste drinking water to waters of the state. The Portland Water Bureau is authorized to discharge drinking water, but only conforming to the terms of its permit. Discharges of waste drinking water to the Willamette and Columbia Rivers, waters of the state, occurred in March and August 2016 which exceeded chlorine and pH limits.
DEQ issued the penalty because limits set in the permit are aimed at protecting fish and other aquatic life from pollutants in the wastewater. Wastewater in exceedance of these levels can negatively affect aquatic life and possibly negatively affect other beneficial uses.
The city has appealed the penalty.
View enforcement notice at https://www.oregon.gov/deq/nr/032417Portland.pdf
Contacts
Tiffany Yelton-Bram, Water Quality Manager, Portland, 503-229-5219, yelton-bram.tiffany@deq.state.or.us
Jeff Bachman, Environmental Law Specialist, Portland, 503-229-5950, bachman.jeff@deq.state.or.us