Attorney General's News Release

February 7, 2011

Attorney General Koster sues Camden County couple for clean water violations

Jefferson City, Mo. – Attorney General Chris Koster has filed a lawsuit in Camden County against Robert and Brenda Watkins, of Osage Beach, alleging four counts of violations of Missouri’s Clean Water Law.

Koster said the Watkins owned and operated a wastewater treatment facility that serves Emerald Court Duplexes, a six-duplex residential facility in Camden County. Effluent from the system is capable of flowing into an unnamed tributary to the Lake of the Ozarks. Missouri Department of Natural Resources inspections showed that violations include failure to renew the treatment facility operating permit; failure to comply with effluent limits; failure to keep the wastewater treatment facility filter free of vegetation; and failure to install and use a flow measurement mechanism.

“Missourians have a right to expect that waste systems are installed in compliance with the law so they won’t pollute our water,” Koster said. “Our office will not look the other way when businesses fail to comply with the law.”

Koster is asking the court to issue a permanent injunction requiring the defendant to comply with the Clean Water Law; to assess a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 per day for each violation of the Clean Water Law; and to require payment of all costs associated with the case.