Campbell Soup Supply Co. has admitted to thousands of violations of the federal Clean Water Act at its canning plant in Napoleon, Ohio.
In a court filing released Monday, the company acknowledged its part in years of illegal discharges into the Maumee River, which feeds into Lake Erie.
In the filing, which listed the plaintiffs as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and environmental groups Environment Ohio and Lake Erie Waterkeeper, Campbell conceded it is legally liable for at least 5,400 violations between April 2018 and December 2024. The wastewater contained phosphorus, ammonia, E. coli bacteria, oil and grease, suspended solids, and other pollutants.
The case stemmed from a lawsuit filed in March 2024 by environmental advocates, who alleged the factory’s discharges were fueling toxic algae blooms in western Lake Erie. Blooms that could threaten drinking water supplies and harm wildlife.
“Campbell’s admission that it committed these violations will speed this case toward a trial that will decide what steps the company must take to curb its pollution and how large a civil penalty should be imposed,” said John Rumpler, Clean Water Program director for Environment Ohio. “That’s great news for the people who live along the Maumee River and Lake Erie.”
Lake Erie Waterkeeper Sandy Bihn said the outcome could mark a turning point in efforts to restore the watershed.
“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,” Bihn stated.
Under federal law, citizens can sue to enforce the Clean Water Act when polluters fail to comply. In this case, Campbell agreed not to contest liability and acknowledged that residents suffered harm from the violations.
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio will now move toward a trial, expected next year, to determine penalties and remediation measures.
Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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