Toxic Discharges:  Puretec Lawsuit

VCK’s monitoring efforts and legal action successfully halted Puretec’s illegal and toxic industrial discharge, that weas substantially degrading the water quality and ecological integrity of Ventura County’s coastal marine waters.

Before VCK took action, the industrial effluent from Puretec’s facility contained toxic metals and resin beads used in its wastewater treatment process that were discharged directly into the Sanjon Barranca storm channel, which carried these pollutants right into Ventura’s coastal waters at Ventura Beach.

In 2002, VCK’s Watershed Monitoring Program caught Puretec redhanded by collecting and testing samples from Sanjon Barranca that contained waste unique to Puretec’s facility. After contacting the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board and filing a notice of intent to sue Puretec for violations of the Clean Water Act, VCK reached a settlement with Puretec that discontinued their illegal discharge and that effectively forced Puretec to relocate its plant.

VCK’s work resulted in a significant improvement of water quality and marine habitat at Ventura’s beaches and in Ventura’s coastal waters.