EPA Community Meeting: Baytown Sanitary Sewer Overflows

Are you a Baytown resident who is dealing with issues related to sewage, or interested in learning more about issues happening in Baytown? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be hosting a virtual meeting on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, 6 – 8 pm.  The public is invited to learn about the civil lawsuit against the City of Baytown, along with causes and reporting of sanitary overflows from Baytown’s sewer system. Attendees can speak with EPA and/or U.S. Department of Justice staff about related concerns and ask questions about the enforcement action against the City of Baytown, Texas.  Virtual Community Meeting: Baytown, Texas, Sanitary Sewer Overflows | US EPA [View PDF Flyer]

This lawsuit, filed by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2022 against the city of Baytown, was prompted by Bayou City Waterkeeper’s notice of intent to sue, which identified more than 800 sewage releases, representing more than 21 million gallons of sewage leaving Baytown’s system without treatment from 2016 to 2021. Our analysis also concluded the highest volume overflows have had a disproportionate impact on Hispanic/Latinx communities in Baytown. The lawsuit alleges that these releases were caused by the city’s failure to operate and maintain its wastewater collection and treatment system and violated the federal Clean Water Act, Texas Water Code, and state-issued permits. We asked for the court’s permission to intervene and help drive these legal violations toward a resolution that focuses on the communities most affected by sewage pollution in Baytown, through a process that is transparent and accessible. Learn about BCWK’s legal efforts in Baytown’s  Sanitary Sewer Overflows.