US(PA): BrightFarms accused of illegal water discharge

U.S. greenhouse grower BrightFarms LLC is accused of illegally discharging waste water from its water storage ponds at their operations in Pennsylvania. According to an article in the Bucks County Courier Times, discharge from the 2 acre greenhouse farm of BrightFarms in Lower Makefield caused ground erosion and might have flowed into a sewer system that drains into commonwealth waters.

This was said by officials of the Department of Environmental Protection in a separate report and letter that was sent to the grower.

According to the article, the DEP inspection also found several bags of unknown materials stored outside the greenhouse's commercial trash bins and trailers. It was said that the bags violate certain DEP rules and regulations because they represent a potential for pollution, officials said in the letter.

BrightFarms has 30 days to respond to the DEP letter and describe the steps it is taking to properly dispose of the waste pond water and how it will store the bags of dry materials somewhere inside the greenhouse. The company could face civil penalties.

Click here for the complete article by Joan Hellyer at the Bucks County Courier Times.