The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board Executive Office has issued an Administrative Civil Liability Complaint to the city of Dixon for $220,000 for violating a cease and desist order regarding polluting groundwater in Solano County.

The city of Dixon owns and operates the Dixon Wastewater Treatment Facility, which provides sewage treatment and disposal for the community.

The Regional Water Board has issued three successive cease and desist Orders in 1996, 1997 and 2005 because of insufficient capacity and groundwater pollution. The city has never fully complied with any of those orders, and has taken no action to alleviate the groundwater pollution problem, which is caused by excessive salt in the city's sewage.

According to Regional Water Board Executive Officer Pamela Creedon, "This is the third cease and desist order that the city of Dixon has not complied with. We have been working closely with city staff and community members for the last two and a half years, urging them to move forward to address the groundwater problem. Despite these efforts, not only has the city not fully complied with our requirements, it has once again asked for additional time to comply. In response to the city's request we will ask the Board to consider adopting a new cease and desist order at its April board meeting; however, it's time to make sure the city fully understands how serious we are about protecting our region's precious groundwater resources from unnecessary pollution that impacts its beneficial uses."

The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board may consider the Complaint at its regular board meeting on April 24 or 25.