HOLYOKE — A consent decree requiring Holyoke to cut back on sewage discharges into the Connecticut River, a settlement reached in March with the U.S. Department of Justice following violations of the city’s federal and state wastewater discharge permits, has been approved by the U.S. District Court in Boston.

The final approval from the court on Aug. 31 comes after an enforcement action brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Massachusetts attorney general’s office, on behalf of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

Holyoke officials have agreed to undertake $27 million in infrastructure projects over the next 15 years to partially separate the city’s stormwater and sewage systems to solve the long-running problem of sewage discharges into the river.

Holyoke owns and operates a sewer collection system that serves about 70% of the city, with two-thirds of that system carrying both sewage and stormwater. Most of the time, the combined system transports all wastewater to the facility for treatment. But during periods of heavy rain, the wastewater volume can exceed the capacity of the sewer system or the treatment facility, causing the excess wastewater to discharge into the Connecticut River before it is treated. Such combined sewer overflows, or CSO discharges, contain raw sewage and are a major water pollution concern.    

Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy said in a statement that protecting waterways from these and other dangerous pollutants is a vital part of the department’s work.

“This consent decree will better ensure that Holyoke residents and every single community that enjoys the Connecticut River is safer,” Levy said. “We commend Holyoke for their ongoing cooperation in developing this improvement plan and for their commitment to protecting the future of the Connecticut River moving forward.”

In cooperation with federal and state environmental agencies, Holyoke has taken steps in recent years to address combined sewer overflow discharges, including finalizing a CSO long-term control plan and eliminating the Jackson Street CSO. The consent decree requires the city to undertake further sewer separation work that will eliminate or reduce additional CSO discharges.

Holyoke will also conduct sampling of its storm sewer discharges, work to remove illicit connections, and take other actions to reduce pollution from stormwater runoff.

The consent decree includes a $50,000 penalty for past permit violations as a result of CSO discharges.

EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash  said in a statement that the settlement will achieve a cleaner and healthier environment for people living in and downstream from Holyoke.

“This work is especially important because Holyoke includes historically disadvantaged communities. It’s a significant priority for EPA to help ensure that all our citizens are able to enjoy a clean and healthy environment,” Cash said.

Similarly, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell expressed gratitude to the federal partners for their work on the settlement.

“My office is committed to creating healthier, safer communities across Massachusetts by fighting environmental injustices like contaminated water and we appreciate the city of Holyoke’s parallel commitment to these important efforts,” Campbell said.

The consent decree supersedes a partial consent decree from 2019 when, at the request of the Department of Justice and the Massachusetts attorney general, Holyoke agreed to develop a long-term plan for reducing sewer discharges.  

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.]]>