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The Campbell Soup Supply Company, a division of US food giant Campbell’s, has admitted liability for violating the Clean Water Act at its canning factory in Napoleon, Ohio, at least 5,400 times.

The company took responsibility for violating the act in a court document filed jointly with plaintiffs Environment Ohio, Lake Erie Waterkeeper and the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Filed in March 2024, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, the lawsuit alleged violations of effluent limits on harmful pollutants including phosphorus, ammonia, E. coli bacteria, oil and grease, and suspended solids among others.

These pollutants can significantly impact water quality, making it unsafe for humans and wildlife. Phosphorus, in particular, can lead to the excessive spread of harmful algae.

Contaminated wastewater from the facility flows into the Maumee River, which flows northeast through Ohio and into Lake Erie. From April 2018 through December 2024, Campbell’s admitted to repeatedly exceeding the legal limits on the amount of pollution it can release into the water.

Sandy Bihn, waterkeeper for Lake Erie, said: “Pollution flowing into western Lake Erie from the Maumee River, containing Campbell’s phosphorus discharges, contributes to the lake’s toxic algal blooms”.

“Bringing an end to Campbell’s violations will help water quality in the river and Lake Erie, and demonstrates the power citizen enforcement suits have to drive meaningful environmental progress.”

The Clean Water Act enables private citizens to bring enforcement actions against violators in federal court, seeking civil penalties and court orders to address environmental harm.

The next steps in the case will involve going to trial in order to determine what steps the company will be required to take to remedy its violations of the Act. This could include civil fines and improvements to current wastewater treatment systems.

John Rumpler, the Clean Water Program director for Environment Ohio, commented: “We appreciate Campbell’s willingness to work cooperatively with us and the federal government to solve its compliance problems, rather than spending time and effort contesting clear-cut violations of the Clean Water Act”.

A spokesperson for Campbell's said that the facility has had "minimal, if any, adverse effects on the Maumee River or Lake Erie".

They added: "We have taken a number of steps to improve our operations and comply with environmental regulations. We have been part of the Napoleon community since 1938 and our goal is to reach a settlement that serves the interest of the environment and the community where our employees live and work."