First Time Ever, Drinking Water Owners Held Liable for Water Violations
A U.S. district judge is holding the owners of several California drinking water companies liable for endangering the health of more than 20,000 local residents. Robert and Natholyn Adcock and the 11 drinking water supply systems they own in Monterey County, allegedly falsified lab reports to hide bacteria levels.
The decision marks the first time in the country that the corporate owners of a drinking water system have been found personally liable for violations under the public water system provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act. The Adcocks could face fines up to $27,500 per day per violation.
The case, filed in the U.S. District Court in San Jose in 1997 on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, alleges that the defendants deliberately falsified lab reports for public water systems submitted to the state and Monterey County from 1991 through 1994 in order to hide violations.
(Source: Environment News Service)