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Zillah Public Water Provider Receives Drinking Water Complaint
Release Date: 2/7/2000
Contact Information: Mark MacIntyre
macintyre.mark@epamail.epa.gov
(206) 553-7302
February 7 , 2000 - - - - - - - 00-008
The owner/operator of a Zillah, Washington, public water system serving 17 homes has been issued a civil complaint by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for failing to comply with state and federal drinking water testing and monitoring requirements. Named as defendants in the complaint are Todd Hurlburt and the Pump 8 Domestic Water Association in Zillah.
Today’s action, filed by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of the EPA, alleges that for many years, the Defendants have failed to comply with their statutory duties and responsibilities in operating a public and community water system, have consistently ignored enforcement efforts by the Washington Department of Health and EPA, have endangered the health of their users and even failed to pay a penalty after being served a Default Order. This civil action demands that the Defendants remedy these problems, bring the water system into compliance and seeks civil penalties of up to $25,000 for each day of violation prior to January 30, 1997, and up to $27,500 for each day of violation occurring on or after January 30, 1997.
According to Mike Cox, manager of EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Program in Seattle, operating a public water system responsibly includes following the law.
“This isn’t just a matter of paperwork violations,” Cox said. “Safe Drinking Water Act requirements have been enacted to protect the public and the safety of our drinking water, a basic requirement of life. EPA and the Washington Department of Health and are take these cases very seriously."
The alleged violations in this complaint include: failure to monitor for total coliform bacteria; failure to monitor for a series of physical standards, inorganic, volatile organic, and synthetic organic chemicals; failure to monitor for nitrate; failure to monitor and report for lead and copper; failure to monitor for radioactivity; failure to report monitoring results to Department of Health (DOH); failure to notify the public of violations; failure to submit copies of public notices to DOH; failure to report noncompliance with the national primary drinking water regulations to DOH; violation of EPA’s Administrative Compliance Order; failure to respond to EPA’s Administrative Complaint for Penalties and failure to respond to EPA’s Default Order.
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