Dairy pays fine in wastewater discharge case

A dairy processor in Plainview, Minn., has paid a $35,000 fine for alleged violations that involve discharging milk-contaminated cooling water into a tributary of the North Fork Whitewater River, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) announced today.

As part of the agreement with the agency, the Plainview Milk Products Cooperative will install new equipment to divert contaminated wastewater to the city's sanitary sewer.

In 2006, Plainview Milk Products paid $5,740 for water-quality violations.

Organic substances such as milk can pollute in surface water by taking up dissolved oxygen necessary for fish and other aquatic life. Portions of the Whitewater River on are Minnesota's list of impaired waters because they do not fully support aquatic life.

In October 2007, the city's wastewater treatment facility staff reported seeing a milky-colored discharge in the tributary.

The agreement requires Plainview Milk Products to make regular inspections of the discharge to ensure that any contaminated water is diverted to the city's wastewater treatment facility and to obtain the appropriate permit for the discharge of industrial wastewater.

PAUL WALSH