Local governments fined for water pollution

Local government agencies in the greater Sacramento region of California in the United States of America have been hit with hefty fines after breaking water pollution laws.

Indeed, a total of 11 local government agencies have been caught violating water pollution laws, and have thus received a total fine of $663,000 (£417,479) each, Sacbee reports.

For each case, the local government must be fined a minimum of $3,000 (£1,889). By these calculations, each local government must have committed around 221 water pollution crimes.

The fines have been imposed by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, which seeks to ensure that all water is clear and free of toxins.

It is the legal requirement of treatment agencies to report any water pollution to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board as part of required monitoring.

One of the penalties was issued to Placer County for violations of coliform, mercury, ammonia, aluminum and other limits at treatment plants discharging to Rock Creek and Miner's Ravine.

The local government at Placer County was issued $303,000 (£190,793) for its mistakes.

Other places simply exceeded the amount of certain pollution materials that they were allowed.

For example, City of Roseville was issued $54,000 (£34,007) for violating coliform limits at Pleasant Grove Wastewater Treatment Plant which discharges to Pleasant Grove Creek.

Other cases include discharging harmful toxins into water, something that the City of Woodland was guilty of.

Indeed, it was charged $45,000 (£28,339) for discharges of selenium, ammonia and coliform from a wastewater treatment plant discharging into Tule Canal and Yolo Bypass.

Another council which was guilty of similar crimes is Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District, which was fined $21,000 (£13,225) for violating manganese, copper, chlorine and other limits discharged to the Sacramento River.

For the 11 guilty councils, there is a 30 day period in which they can pay the fine or choose to appeal.