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3/24/2026
WT Staff
Knowledge of an environmental crime? Give us a call at 877-52-WATER (877-529-2837), or email info@wtny.us
Mar 25, 2025 800 am EDT
US Bureau
CrimeBox
Historic Conviction Fiscal Year 2012; Case ID# CR_2375 (Indiana)
Municipal Wastewater Plant fails to report untreated sewage overflows, judge sentences a year in prison
Michigan City, Indiana: The Defendant in this case is the individual responsible for the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)operated by Michigan City Sanitary District. The Defendant plead guilty to felony violation of the Clean Water Act for knowingly discharging contaminants to waters of the USA without a permit.
The Defendant further admitted to making false statements about the untreated wastewater releases impacting Trail Creek. Federal District Court in Indiana received a bill of information indicating that raw sewage had been released with no reporting, and that no repairs had been initiated to prevent future overflows.
Sanitary Sewage Overflows (SSO's) occur when raw sewage is allowed to discharge to the environment. These events are not permitted; if and when they occur they must be reported, as any hazardous spill. Liability ensues, with the appropriate civil action taken. When the event is not reported, the matter can be pursued by the US EPA Criminal Investigation Division.
SSO's should not be confused with Combined Sanitary and Stormwater Overflows (CSSO's), in which heavy rainfall overwhelms a combined intake system for stormwater and sanitary sewer. The CSSO's are permitted discharges, as a spill for which no entity can be held accountable. Combined stormwater and sanitary systems are always at risk of releasing untreated wastewater. The ideal situation is for such facilities to be upgraded with storage chambers sufficient to prevent the overflow. See the March 2026 CSO report from Niagara Falls Wastewater District, here.
The Defendant was sentenced to a year in prison and two years probation, along with a hefty fine.
Prison: 12 months; Federal Fine: $15,000; Probation: 24 months
See last week's CrimeBox, "Polymer plant employee overflows the wastewater tank", here.
CrimeBox briefs are compiled from EPA Criminal Enforcement records.
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