NJ Water Operator Busted For False Quality Reports

The former licensed operator at a New Jersey water utility pleaded guilty this month to submitting false water quality reports to the state.

“Edward O'Rourke, 60, of Brick, pleaded guilty to an accusation charging him with second-degree corruption of public resources and third-degree violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act,” NJ Advance Media reported, citing Acting Attorney General John Hoffman.

“Hoffman said O'Rourke entered his pleas in New Brunswick before Superior Court Judge Alberto Rivas who will also sentence him on Feb 8, 2016,” the report said, citing Hoffman.

The amount of false reports was considerable, according to WOBM:

Investigators said they identified reports of more than 200 samples reflecting false figures, including fabricated testing dates, sample sites and methods, and data for samples that weren’t tested at all. O’Rourke also managed the New Brunswick certified environmental laboratory that analyzed samples from systems for coliform bacteria. Investigators said that he fudged the data in order to appear compliant with federal and state guidelines, and to mask inconsistent testing protocols he and his staff employed.

Here’s what the punishment may look like, per New Brunswick Today: “Under a plea deal, the AG's Office will recommend a three-year prison sentence for each of the hundreds of crimes O'Rourke committed, and they want to allow the sentences to run concurrently.”

Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice weighed in: “He lied hundreds of times. Prison is the right penalty for such flagrant dishonesty, given that we’re talking about regulations designed to protect the public’s health.”

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