NC Wastewater Worker Allegedly Fired For Pointing Out Violations

A lawsuit filed by a former waste treatment worker alleges that officials in a North Carolina town fired him for speaking up about the practice of illegally dumping wastewater into a nearby river.

“A lawsuit that alleges Wilkesboro town officials illegally dumped untreated wastewater into the Yadkin River is being transferred from Forsyth County to Wilkes County,” the Winston Salem-Journal reported.

Attorneys for former treatment worker Scott Church originally filed the lawsuit in October, the newspaper previously reported. “Church worked for Wilkesboro’s wastewater treatment plant from 2000 to August of this year and said in the lawsuit that town officials fired him when he alleged that the town was illegally dumping untreated wastewater and falsifying water samples,” the newspaper reported.

One of the town’s attorneys said he expects the town to respond to the lawsuit early next year, the report said.

“According to the lawsuit, Church said that at least twice this year, he saw the plant dump untreated wastewater into the Yadkin River. He said Ken Noland, the town manager, and others ignored his concerns and eventually fired him August 26,” the report said.

“The suit says Church, who was once plant operator, had complained for several years that the wastewater plant lacked adequate capacity to handle increasing amounts of waste. Church also told the utilities director that the plant needed an additional clarifier, which would separate waste from water, according to the suit. He told town officials that the town needed to use more chemicals because of the plant’s inadequate capacity to handle the increased amount of wastewater,” the report continued.

John Willardson, an attorney for the town, said the allegations prompted officials to notify the state to request an independent investigation, according to the report. He issued a statement when the lawsuit was originally filed in October, per the Wilkes Journal-Patriot:

The town is committed to assuring that the wastewater treatment plant complies with all applicable state and federal regulations. If any violation has in fact occurred, the town will take such steps as are necessary to promptly correct the issue. The town expects the employees of the wastewater treatment plant to fully comply with all state and federal laws and regulations and is committed to assuring that is done.

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