EPA Seeks $27,500 Civil Penalty for Monitoring Violations
EPA recently lodged a civil complaint seeking a $27,500 fine against
the American Realty & Mortgage Co., alleging the Arizona water
company repeatedly disregarded an order to monitor its drinking water
supply for lead, copper and nitrates.
American Realty and Mortgage also failed to notify customers about
its failure to monitor for lead, copper and nitrates, as well as
excessive levels of nitrate in the water, EPA officials said.
"We are taking action against American Realty to ensure everyone in
Pinal County has access to safe drinking water"," said Alexis Strauss,
water division director for EPA Region 9. "We will continue to oversee
all Arizona public water systems, and ensure the required monitoring of
drinking water quality is conducted."
Information about the water company's drinking water violations also
was shared with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the
Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), state agencies that have
authority over water utilities in Arizona. The ACC recently placed this
system in receivership. Global Resources, the interim operator, is
presently running the water system.
For more information about drinking water contaminants, go to http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/watewaterpollutants.html .