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Ohio EPA warns Athens County plant faces heightened risk of repeat E. coli violations
Summary
Ohio EPA told commissioners the Plains wastewater plant has recurring E. coli exceedances, 13 discharge violations since Aug. 2021 (12 E. coli), and recommended hydraulics, solids management and staffing fixes before May 1 to avoid a third consecutive year of Significant Non‑Compliance in 2026.
Brandon Atwood of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency told the Athens County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 16 that The Plains wastewater treatment plant has a history of E. coli discharge violations and needs near‑term operational changes to avoid escalated enforcement.
Atwood said inspectors have recorded 13 discharge violations at the plant since August 2021, 12 of which involved E. coli, and that the facility was cited as Significant Non‑Compliant in both 2024 and 2025. He urged county staff to produce a written corrective plan and implement fixes before the May 1 start of the summer disinfection/monitoring season to reduce the risk of a third consecutive SNC designation for 2026.
Ohio EPA’s review identified several likely drivers of the chronic exceedances: hydraulic recirculation in the UV disinfection channel that reduces individual exposure time, solids carryover into the UV channel (inspectors observed roughly two inches of solids during a visit), limited sludge‑handling capacity and infrequent wasting practices, and constrained operator hours that limit process control. Atwood recommended engaging the agency’s Compliance Assistance Unit (a confidential, no‑cost service) to review biology and solids management, commissioning a quick UV hydraulic assessment (vendor or engineering consultant), expanding routine wasting from monthly bulk events to more frequent wasting, and creating a backup disposal option (press/haul or hauling to the City) if land‑application windows close.
County staff agreed to tasks Ohio EPA recommended including contacting the CAU immediately, scheduling a hydraulic evaluation, drafting a solids/sludge plan with routine wasting targets, and preparing an NOV response plan with timelines through April. Atwood said these steps should be documented within about 30 days (holiday scheduling flexibility) to position the plant for stable compliance by May 1.
If the county remains on the SNC list for a third year, Ohio EPA warned the matter could escalate to stronger enforcement, including possible consent orders or federal involvement. The board did not vote on any immediate capital funding at the meeting; Atwood’s briefing focused on operational and procedural changes and a near‑term action plan.
