EPA requiring 3 California companies to submit wastewater plans

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said Tuesday that three companies operating manufacturing facilities in Visalia, California, will have to submit plans about increasing their efforts to keep polluted wastewater out of Mill Creek and stay in compliance with federal, state and local regulations.

The agency cited the companies – Univar USA, Advanced Food Products and Milk Specialties Global – in January 2014 for violating the wastewater limits on electrical conductivity, cadmium, zinc, oil and grease, total suspended solids and biochemical oxygen demand, among others.

In resolution of its enforcement actions, the EPA is now requiring each company to submit plans for wastewater treatment improvements, operational changes or other strategies to get their discharges under control. They must also conduct and regular sampling and testing to ensure their wastewater is in compliance.

“These facilities have been consistently discharging industrial wastewater that results in increased salt loads in Mill Creek,” EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Jared Blumenfeld said. “The orders will assist the city of Visalia and the San Joaquin Valley battle the salt problem that threatens the local economy.”