Groundwater Violations at Battle Road Farm Condo Trust Results in $20,000 Penalty 
 Residents' group agrees to upgrade wastewater treatment system

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) penalized the Battle Road Farm Condominium Trust $20,000 for repeated groundwater discharge violations at its 120-unit housing property, located on Indian Camp Lane in Lincoln.

The Trust operates a wastewater treatment system that discharges to the Shawsheen River, and has had a valid discharge permit since 1986; its most recent permit was issued in August 2003. 

"A residential wastewater treatment system with a surface water discharge permit carries with it the responsibility to initiate corrective steps when necessary in order to protect the resource area around them," said Richard Chalpin, director of MassDEP's Northeast Regional Office in Wilmington.  "Any pollutants - and, in particular, high levels of phosphorous - that threaten the state's watersheds need to be addressed promptly."

Monthly discharge reports since 2006 show the facility has exceeded its permitted discharge limits for phosphorous (12 months); total aluminum (seven quarters); total copper (seven quarters); total lead (one quarter); total nitrogen (one month); and biochemical oxygen demand (one month). The Trust also failed to submit its monthly reports on time for all 12 months of 2006 and nine months of 2007.

The Trust has now agreed to submit a staffing plan to more closely monitor the system and by no later than April 1, 2008, submit a plan to upgrade the facility in order to comply with all parameters of its discharge permit. MassDEP has agreed to suspend $8,000 of the penalty pending compliance.

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