HAMMOND | The former contract operator of the Gary Sanitary District wastewater treatment plant and two of its employees are on trial this week facing allegations they violated the Clean Water Act.
The 26-count indictment accuses United Water Services Inc., and former Gary plant manager Dwain Bowie and staff member Gregory Ciaccio of tampering with wastewater-monitoring methods to meet mandated environmental standards. They are accused of adding extra chlorine before samples were taken.
The defendants filed a motion last year claiming the government's allegations do not amount to tampering. They argued their actions were authorized and required by Gary's discharge permits.
Jury selection began Monday in federal court in Hammond. The trial is estimated to last about three weeks, court records state.
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