Carnival operator cited $1,000 for illegal grey water discharge into Burns Valley Creek
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The company operating the carnival at this week’s Independence Day celebration in Clearlake has been cited after authorities said it discharged grey water into a creek.
The Clearlake Police Department reported that the citation was given to Midway of Fun - Brass Ring Amusements of Fair Oaks.
On Sunday, Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to the carnival, which this week has been held at Austin Park, for a report of sewage being discharged into Burns Valley Creek, the department reported.
The agency said officers arrived on scene and found evidence of improper discharge of grey water but no evidence of raw sewage discharge. One employee was arrested and released on a citation for improperly discharging grey water from a trailer near the creek.
Further investigation revealed additional grey water had been discharged into the creek from a portable shower unit used by employees of the carnival, police said.
Police said officers issued an administrative citation for $1,000 – the maximum fine level allowed for an administrative citation under state law – to Midway of Fun - Brass Ring Amusements for improper discharge.
At the conclusion of an ongoing criminal investigation, the company could also face criminal charges, police said.
The police report said a further inspection of the creek and ground near the creek did not reveal evidence of any raw sewage.
The department has been in contact with Lake County Environmental Health, Fish and Wildlife and the Lake County Fire Protection District regarding this incident.
The Clearlake Police Department said its findings will be forwarded to city officials for consideration in approving future operations by this carnival vendor in the city.
“We are thankful for the community member who initially reported this incident to us so we could take action,” the department said in its report.