A toxic algae bloom. Photo: Mikhailissimo via Shutterstock
February 16, 2021 (BOSTON, MA) – Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) has filed a lawsuit against the Town of Barnstable for Clean Water Act violations. The Town’s sewage treatment plant, located in Hyannis, is polluting nearby coastal waters with nitrogen, causing algae outbreaks.
“Sewage and harmful pollutants are leaking from this wastewater plant directly into nearby estuaries, bays, and streams,” said Christopher Kilian, Vice President of Strategic Litigation at CLF. “For too long, Town officials have skirted legal requirements and taken no action to prevent nitrogen pollution and protect the Cape’s waters. The area’s water pollution crisis demands action now.”
Nitrogen pollution from Barnstable’s Hyannis sewage treatment plant fuels explosive growth of algae that is destroying the Cape’s coastal ecosystems. Algae outbreaks also force the closure of ponds and beaches each year, which harms the local economy and dampens tourism.
CLF’s lawsuit calls for Barnstable to stop the sewage plant’s nitrogen pollution and comply with the federal Clean Water Act. The lawsuit can be found here.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
###