Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut
A New Jersey-based company, National Water Main Cleaning Company (NWMCC), has been sentenced for a felony violation of the Clean Water Act. The company was found guilty of knowingly discharging pollutants into Cuff Brook in Cheshire, Connecticut, while refurbishing a culvert pipe in July 2019. This unauthorized discharge resulted in the death of over 150 fish and contamination of the waterway.
U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley handed down the sentence in Bridgeport, imposing federal probation with environmental conditions for three years on NWMCC. Additionally, the company is required to pay a $500,000 federal penalty and another $500,000 to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) for aquatic ecosystem enhancement projects in the South Central Coastal Watershed.
The incident occurred after NWMCC won a contract with the Town of Cheshire to repair an 11-foot culvert pipe under Marion Road. Despite project specifications requiring dry conditions and environmental controls to prevent leakage into Cuff Brook, NWMCC failed to implement these measures from July 16 to July 18, 2019. During this period, heavy rain exacerbated the situation, leading to uncured geopolymer mortar seeping into the brook.
An investigation by CT DEEP determined that NWMCC's actions were responsible for the pollutant release. The investigation also revealed deficiencies in NWMCC's environmental controls and training programs. The company's bonus policy reportedly incentivized quick project completion at the expense of environmental safety.
Despite attempts by NWMCC to attribute blame to a single employee, it was found that he had been inadequately trained and pressured to meet unrealistic deadlines without knowledge of the hazardous nature of uncured geopolymer mortar.
The case was investigated by several agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen with assistance from EPA Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel Man Chak Ng.
NWMCC pleaded guilty on January 17, 2025.
