8000+ Violations of Clean Water Act
River Watch vs. Sonoma Valley Sanitation District
Case Number: C 97-4263 CRB
Date filed: January 15, 1999
Background: Over 8,000 violations of the Clean Water Act and violation of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.
RW Action and Results: Suit resulted in increased personnel for compliance,
protection of the public during raw sewage spills, increased testing for priority
chemicals, faster response time in cases of raw sewage spills and a decrease in the
allowable pollutants being discharged by the plant. In addition, it contributed remediation
funds to restore watersheds and creeks in Sonoma Valley and court ordered fees and
costs. They will implement a sewer line replacement program designed to decrease
problems created by wet weather, with a budgeted expenditure of $2.2 million in the
1999-2000 fiscal year and $53 million over the next 8 years. The District agreed
to fund $83,000 in community grants for remediation projects. The projects included
watershed restoration, remediation and/or habitat protection as well as educational
projects designed to inform the public concerning watershed issues.