Group threatens to sue city over sewage treatment

HATTIESBURG — A nonprofit group says its intent to sue the City of Hattiesburg over alleged environmental violations at its sewage lagoon if the city does not clean up its act in 60 days.

The Hattiesburg American reports the Gulf Restoration Network sent a letter to Hattiesburg dated Nov. 4, noting its intent to sue if the city does not fix its purported violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

The 17-year-old network alleges in its letter that the city is exceeding pollutant limits set by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality in treated wastewaters dumped from the city’s sewage lagoons.

City Attorney Charles Lawrence said officials plan to discuss the issues with MDEQ and the Gulf Restoration Network, and are working toward ultimately reducing the amount of contaminants dumped into the rivers.