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Committee directs staff to draft ordinance capping sanitary-discharge fines at $100 per day
Summary
The Village of Weston Public Works & Utility Committee on May 11 directed staff to draft ordinance language imposing fines for illegal clear-water discharges into the sanitary sewer system that do not exceed $100 per day, following staff reports of large inflow and infiltration volumes and rising treatment costs.
The Village of Weston Public Works & Utility Committee voted May 11 to direct staff to draft ordinance language allowing fines — not to exceed $100 per day — for illegal clear-water discharges into the sanitary sewer system.
Committee members spent an extended discussion on inflow and infiltration after utility staff presented data showing a recent gap between water pumped and wastewater treated. Staff said the village pumped about 37 million gallons into the distribution system in a recent month while treating roughly 53–54 million gallons, indicating roughly 15 million gallons of additional clear water that must be treated at the wastewater plant. Staff tied part of the excess to sump pumps and other clear-water discharges into sanitary laterals and to high groundwater during spring thaw.
The committee discussed enforcement options under the municipal ordinance, which allows penalties from $100 to $1,000 per day. Members favored an escalating approach that starts with notice and technical assistance for likely inadvertent violations and moves to fines for repeat or willful noncompliance. Committee members asked staff to pursue detection and notification procedures — including using a contracted in-pipe technology vendor to identify problem areas — and to draft enforcement language. A motion directing staff to prepare draft ordinance language with fines capped at $100 per day passed by voice vote.
Staff emphasized the operational rationale: large volumes of clear water entering the sanitary system increase treatment costs and plant workloads and can lead to higher utility expenses for all customers. At the meeting staff reported preliminary cost impacts — including recent monthly flow and treatment increases that raised the utility’s operating costs by tens of thousands of dollars compared with the previous year — and said they would supply more detailed cost estimates with the draft language.
The committee’s direction requires staff to prepare formal ordinance language, notice procedures and an enforcement timeline; staff will return with the draft for committee and board consideration at a future meeting.
