ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
October
14
•
1976
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY,
)
Complainant,
v.
)
PCB 76—148
VET’S PLACE SUBDIVISION HOME-
OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION
)
Respondent.
Mr.
Stephen Gunning, Technical Advisor, Mr.
Richard Gerard,
Engineer, and Mr. Franklin Lewis,
Regional Manager, Region
3,
Department of Public Water Supplies,
appeared on behalf of
the Complainant.
Mr. John Stoecker appeared on behalf of Respondent.
OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD
(by Dr. Satchell)
This matter comes before the Pollution Control Board
(Board)
upon
a complaint filed on May 12,
1976 by the Environmental
Protection Agency
(Agency)
alleging that Respondent owns and
operates
a public water supply serving approximately
85 people
in Vet’s Place Subdivision, R.R.#l, Chillicothe,
Peoria County,
Illinois.
The complaint further alleges that Respondent’s
public water supply consists of one dri~~I well,
a distri-
bution system and a pressure storage tank which Respondent
has failed
to chlorinate since December 21,
1975
in violation
of Rule 305 of the Chapter
6: Public Water Supply Regulations
(hereinafter Requlations).
A
hear inq
was
held
in this maLLer on Au~unL
~
,
1~976
at
Peoria,
Illinois.
AL
the
hearing
John
L.
~ Loockc’r,
V ice—Pros
i—
dent
of
the
Vet’s
Place
Subdivision
Homeowners’
Association,
testified that there is no chlorination being fed into the
water supply
(R.
8,
10).
Mr. Stoecker became aware of
the
requirement when he became Vice—President six months before
the hearing
(R.
10)
.
Someone in the Association informed him
of the requirement
(R.
10)
.
An enforcement notice was sent
to the Association
(Comp. Ex.
1).
Implementation
of chlori-
nation has been discussed in the organization; however,
the
Association has taken no action
(R.
11).
The Subdivision
has regularly submitted water samples
to the Agency and there
is no complaint that there has been contaminated water
(R.
15)
The Water Association apparently
feels absent evidence of
24
—
57
—2-
contamination that there is no need for chlorination
(R.
38)
The
Board
finds
that
Respondent
has
violated Rule 305
of the Regulations
by
failing
to chlorinate
its water.
Prior to assessment of
a penalty the Board must consider the
factors of Section
33(c)
of the Act,
To date the water
samples
of the Subdivision have not indicated any contami-
nation
(R.
15).
As of yet there has been no injury to the
community.
There is no question that
a safe water supply
is a necessity to the 24 homes served by the distribution
system
(R. 9).
The suitability of the sources
location is
not in
issue.
An Agency witness estimated
the chlorination
system could be installed
for $500 to $l~000 (P.
33).
Up
to the last elections the Association was chargirip two
dollars per month for service
(R.
47)
.
The rate has now
been increased to five dollars per month
(P.
49)
.
The
Secretary and President of the Association do not pay
(P.
48).
This would give the Association approximatei2~$1,200 per year
to run.
The Board finds that the chlorHation
of the supply
system
is technically and economically
rccisor~ah1o.
The Board finds that Respondent’s ~cJiherate
delay
in
compliance warrants the assessment of
penalLy
for the
violation of Rule
305.
The Respondent was informed of its
public duty to safeguard its water supply,
but apparently
decided to substitute its own judgment and exoerience with
regard to the distribution system over
the exeerience and
expertise behind the regulations invcinod.
The regulations
are based upon extensive experience tiw
:nut the State,
and their purpose
is
to keep all public: water supplies
in
a
safe and sanitary condition.
The Boa:ci, therefore,
assesses
a penalty of $200 to aid in the enforcement of the Board’s
regulations.
Respondent shall
chlorinahe
its water supply
in
compliance
with
Rule
305
and
sh~i~
1
e’’n~’
md
I~H
;i
I u un
V
I
()
This
Opinion
constitutes
the Board’s
I indings
of
fact
and
conclusions of law.
ORDER
It
is the Order of the Pollution Control Board that:
1.
Respondent
is found to be in violation of Rule
305
of Chapter
6: Public Water Supply Regulations.
24
—
58
—3—
2.
Respondent shall chlorinate its public water
supply system in coinlilulce with Rule 305 of
Chapter
6.
3.
Respondent shall cease and desist future viola-
tions
of the Regulations within ninety
(90)
days.
4.
Respondent shall pay a penalty of $200 within
35 days of this Order.
Payment shall be made
by certified check or money order payable to:
State of Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency
Fiscal Services Division
2200 Churchill Road
Springfield,
Illinois 62706
I, Christan
L. Moffett, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution
Control Board, hereby certify the above Oninion and Order
were adopted on the
~
day
of
~
1976 by a
vote of
-
Cur
i
eLan
L.
Met
eLI.,
~1ork
.1 Ilinois
Pollu
t
loin
~onLroI
Board
24
—
59