Atlanta to pay $76K for water quality violations

The Atlanta City Council has approved paying $76,000 in stipulated penalties arising from alleged environmental violations at five Department of Watershed Management sites in November and December 2015.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Environmental Protection Division of the state Department of Natural Resources penalized Atlanta for seven violations involving fecal coliform levels, sampling failures and other operating issues, according a resolution passed by the Council on Tuesday.

The violations occurred at the North Avenue, Custer Avenue, Tanyard Creek and Clear Creek combined sewer control facilities and the West Area Water Quality Control Facility. The city is subject to penalties under the combined sewer overflows consent decree with the U.S. EPA.