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Environmental Groups Sue WSSC Over Plant

POTOMAC, Md. (AP) -- Environmental groups are suing the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission for alleged Clean Water Act violations, claiming a water filtration plant Potomac is polluting the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay.

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in federal court in Maryland. It claims the commission's Potomac Water Filtration Plant, which provides water to Montgomery and Prince George's counties, has improperly discharged millions of pounds of sediments and aluminum into the Potomac.

The environmental groups say the health of the river and the bay are being compromised by the discharges.

The lawsuit was filed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Environmental Integrity Project on behalf of the Potomac Riverkeeper.

The commission said in a statement it believes its discharges comply with its existing permit but it does not discuss pending litigation.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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