The New Era - All about Sweet Home since 1929

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality recently issued a $22,445 civil penalty to the city of Sweet Home for more than 125 violations of Oregon water-quality protection law.

In a Jan. 19 letter, the DEQ cited the city for failing to meet pollutant limits and conduct wastewater monitoring required by its wastewater permit, and for violating state law by discharging raw sewage and non-disinfected wastewater to Ames Creek.

“To protect public health and the environment, DEQ recommends that Sweet Home immediately initiate an evaluation to determine the cause of these violations and t...