Man Indicted For Dumping Raw Sewage Into Passaic Co. Lake: AG

WEST MILFORD, NJ — A state grand jury indicted a man Friday for dumping raw sewage into a Passaic County lake, according to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Anthony Serpe illegally collected hundreds of gallons of waste before dumping some into a storm drain that emptied into West Milford Lake, authorities said.

Serpe was indicted on charges of third-degree violation of New Jersey’s Water Pollution Control Act and fourth-degree illegal collection of solid waste.

According to the charges, Serpe collected solid waste on March 23, 2021, without approval from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The Greenwood Lake, New York, resident gathered between 250 and 1,000 gallons of wastewater and solid waste from a residential septic system, the indictment says.

He then dumped a portion of it into a storm drain at William and Center Streets in West Milford, which discharges to a tributary to West Milford Lake, authorities said.

If convicted, third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and up to $15,000 in fines. Fourth-degree convictions carry up to 18 months in prison and fines of up to $10,000.

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