MA AG Sues Septic Company Over Waste Dumped Into Blackstone Wetlands

BLACKSTONE, MA — Attorney General Andrea Campbell is suing a Blackstone septic services company, alleging that the company dumped untreated waste into wetland areas owned by the town.

The lawsuit filed against several companies under the umbrella of Marchand Environmental alleges that the company violated the state Wetlands Protection Act and Massachusetts Clean Waters Act, among other laws.

According to Campbell, the company illicitly expanded its 25 Elm St. property using wood waste and construction debris, and then used those areas to dump untreated septic waste. The waste then seeped into wetland areas, which protect some of Blackstone's drinking water wells.

"[T]he Defendants dumped septage from the pumping truck into a large wood pile, resulting in septage seeping into wetland resource areas. In addition, the complaint alleges that the Defendants’ trucks leaked septic waste directly onto the ground, resulting in dangerously high levels of fecal coliform bacteria contamination from human waste in wetland resource areas on Blackstone’s property," the lawsuit says.

The company's property abuts the Southern New England Trunkline Trail and Harris Pond, which flows into the Blackstone River near the Rhode Island line.

Campbell is suing for civil damages, but also to force the company to clean up the contaminated wetlands.