DEQ fines the City of Canby $9,798 for water quality violations
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has fined the City of Canby $9,798 for water quality violations for its underground injection controls, also known as drywells. Drywells are holes in the ground (typically 20 feet deep and four feet in diameter) that are used by the city to dispose of stormwater from streets.
The City of Canby failed to monitor stormwater quality from its drywells the appropriate number times during the 2014-2015 monitoring year as required by its water quality permit.
DEQ issued this penalty because fulfilling the mandatory monitoring and reporting conditions of a wastewater permit is an important obligation. Without monitoring, the City of Canby, DEQ and the public are unable to evaluate the impact of your underground injection controls on water quality and public health. The cleanliness of underground drinking water is essential for public health.
The city has until March 14 to appeal the penalty.
http://www.oregon.gov/deq/nr/030116Canby.pdf
Contacts
Jeff Bachman, Environmental Law Specialist, Portland, 503-229-5950, bachman.jeff@deq.state.or.us
Matt Kohlbecker, Water Quality Program, Portland, 503-229-6371, kohlbecker.matt@deq.state.or.us