Irwindale, CA – Davis Wire Corporation, a galvanized wire manufacturer, has been sentenced following a guilty plea to charges of illegally discharging acidic wastewater into the Irwindale sewer system. The case, stemming from a multi-agency investigation, highlights a pattern of negligence and disregard for environmental regulations that ultimately cost the company $1.525 million in fines and restitution.
The investigation began in February 2008, when Los Angeles County Sanitation District (LACSD) personnel detected highly acidic wastewater – registering a pH of approximately 3.0 – within the Irwindale Trunk Line. Tracing the source, investigators pinpointed the Davis Wire plant located at 5555 Irwindale Avenue as the origin of the repeated illegal discharges. Davis Wire’s permit with the LACSD explicitly prohibits wastewater discharges with a pH below 6.0.
Between February and May 2008, inspectors documented a total of 14 separate instances of acidic discharge, with pH levels plummeting as low as 1.0. The company utilizes sulfuric acid in its manufacturing process and is legally obligated to neutralize the acid using a dedicated wastewater treatment system before releasing any effluent into the public sewer. However, evidence revealed that Davis Wire’s treatment system had been in a state of disrepair and requiring upgrades for years, contributing to the ongoing violations.
Sewer System Damage & Financial Penalties
The cumulative effect of these illegal discharges caused significant damage to the LACSD’s sewer infrastructure. The sustained exposure to highly acidic wastewater corroded the trunk line to such an extent that a complete re-lining of the system became necessary – a costly undertaking exceeding $1 million. On October 26, 2010, Davis Wire pled guilty to one count of negligent discharge of pollutants into a publicly owned treatment works, as outlined in 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A), a violation of the Clean Water Act. The company was sentenced to pay a $25,000 federal fine and $1.5 million in restitution to the LACSD to cover the costs of the sewer line repairs.
Multi-Agency Effort & Environmental Concerns
The successful prosecution of Davis Wire was a collaborative effort involving the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the LACSD, Los Angeles County Public Works, the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, and the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. EPA officials emphasized the severity of the violations and the potential risks to both public health and the environment.
“Davis Wire has an extensive history of noncompliance since at least 2004, including repeated discharges of highly acidic wastewater,” stated Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Their illegal discharges put the surrounding community at risk by damaging the sewer pipes, potentially impacting public health and the environment.” Nick Torres, Special Agent in Charge of the EPA’s Office of Criminal Enforcement, added that the sentencing serves as a clear message: “All companies must ensure their compliance with federal environmental regulations or face the consequences.”
Key Facts:
- Defendant: Davis Wire Corporation
- Location: Irwindale, California
- Crime: Illegal discharge of acidic wastewater into a public sewer system
- Statute Violated: 33 U.S.C. 1319(c)(2)(A) – Clean Water Act
- pH Levels: Discharges ranged from 1.0 to 4.0, far below the permitted 6.0 minimum
- Restitution: $1.5 million to the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (LACSD)
- Criminal Fine: $25,000
- Total Penalties: $1,525,000
- Damage: Required a full re-lining of the Irwindale Trunk Line at a cost exceeding $1 million
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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