A New Jersey company, National Water Main Cleaning Company (NWMCC), has admitted to polluting a Connecticut brook and violating the Clean Water Act. The incident, which occurred in July 2019, caused significant harm to the environment, including killing over 150 fish and contaminating Cuff Brook. The company pleaded guilty to the felony charge in a Bridgeport court on Friday.
NWMCC was hired by the Town of Cheshire, Connecticut, to repair a damaged 11-foot culvert pipe beneath Marion Road. The town’s requirements included working under dry conditions and using strict environmental controls to prevent any harmful materials from entering the nearby brook. Despite these rules, NWMCC failed to follow proper procedures.
From July 16 to July 18, 2019, workers used a geopolymer mortar to spray the pipe without adequate environmental controls. Heavy rain during this time caused the chemical to seep into Cuff Brook, discoloring the water, killing fish, and leaving an oily sheen with a strong chemical odor. A resident reported the damage after noticing dead fish and the strange smell.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) launched an investigation, which confirmed that NWMCC’s actions caused the environmental damage.
Investigators found that the company was aware of its inadequate environmental controls but failed to address the issues. Additionally, employees lacked proper training, and the company pressured its staff to complete projects quickly under unrealistic deadlines.
This isn’t NWMCC’s first environmental violation. In 2014, the company settled with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office over similar allegations. During the Cheshire project, NWMCC was already operating under a Code of Conduct for environmental compliance. Despite this, the company prioritized speed and profit over safety, offering bonuses to supervisors for quick project completion.
As part of the guilty plea, NWMCC agreed to pay $500,000 to fund aquatic ecosystem restoration projects in Connecticut’s South Central Coastal Watershed. Sentencing is scheduled for February 27. This case serves as a warning to other companies operating in Connecticut that violating environmental laws will not be tolerated.
Outgoing U.S. Attorney Vanessa Avery emphasized that companies must comply with environmental laws. “NWMCC allowed a hazardous substance to escape into Cuff Brook, causing significant harm. This prosecution sends a clear message that profit-driven environmental neglect will not go unpunished,” she said.
EPA Special Agent Tyler Amon praised the collaboration between the EPA, CT DEEP, and Connecticut’s Attorney General. “Environmental compliance and accountability are crucial. NWMCC’s guilty plea acknowledges its failure to protect the environment during this project,” Amon said.
This case highlights the importance of environmental accountability, proper employee training, and the enforcement of laws that safeguard public waterways.
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