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NEWS: Indictment alleges company illegally discharged zinc, chrome into sewer system

Sewer District Water Quality & Industrial Surveillance (shown above) and Westerly Wastewater Treatment Plant staff assisted with the investigation that led to today’s indictment.

An indictment was filed in federal court today charging Thomas E. White, 49, of Fairview Park, and Kelly Plating Company with making illegal discharges with high concentrations of metals such as chrome and zinc into the sewer system.

The indictment alleges that Kelly Plating ensured all of its pollution control equipment—which was “was operated properly” on weekdays—was bypassed on weekends, discharging partially treated waste and high concentrations of chrome and zinc directly to the sewer system.

“[We have] made significant investments to improve water quality in our region, and will not tolerate actions that jeopardize that investment,” said Sewer District Executive Director Julius Ciaccia in a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The Sewer District, its stringent industrial monitoring program and Westerly Wastewater Treatment Plant staff were proud to contribute to the investigation with partners Ohio EPA, U.S. EPA, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

Read the full release.