The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached an agreement with the City of Corry and the Municipal Authority of the City of Corry to address violations related to their wastewater treatment plant. The agreement, finalized in December 2024, requires the city and authority to rectify Clean Water Act permit breaches at their current facility.
The existing wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 6,000-8,000 residents in and around Corry, Pennsylvania. It is designed to handle up to 3.5 million gallons of wastewater daily, discharging into Hare Creek—a tributary of Brokenstraw Creek and the Allegheny River.
Violations cited include non-compliance with effluent limits set by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and excessive pollutant discharge into Hare Creek. As part of the resolution, Corry's city officials and municipal authority have committed to a corrective action plan. This includes immediate operational improvements at the current facility and constructing a new treatment plant at an estimated cost of $40 million.
This new plant will feature enhanced hydraulic and organic treatment capacities as per their Act 537 Plan, approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) in November 2024. Funding for this project is being sought through PennVest grants or low-interest loans. Construction is expected to commence following PADEP's issuance of necessary permits and securing financing, with completion anticipated within two years.
The EPA initiated this action due to potential environmental harm from ongoing violations that included discharges containing fecal coliform bacteria, suspended solids, copper, and Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. The facility is located in a community identified with potential Environmental Justice concerns.
The Clean Water Act mandates regulation of pollutant discharges from point sources like wastewater plants via NPDES permits. These permits define permissible pollutant types and levels to safeguard water quality.
For more details on this agreement or the EPA’s NPDES municipal wastewater program, relevant documents are available online.
