BelGioioso to build wastewater treatment plant

A Northeast Wisconsin cheesemaker will construct a $1.5 million wastewater treatment plant as part of a settlement with the state.

The state Department of Justice says BelGioioso Cheese Inc. violated the terms of two permits for land spreading of industrial dairy waste.

The DOJ says the violations included spreading of waste too close to a drainage way, spreading on saturated soils, runoff to a wetland, winter spreading on sites not approved for the winter months, and failure to report noncompliance.

The claims were based on inspections triggered by hotline complaints at various locations in Manitowoc and Oconto counties.

In response, the state says BelGioioso is working to improve and minimize its land spreading activities. As part of the settlement, BelGioioso agreed to create and implement a comprehensive wastewater management plan for all five of its facilities. In addition, BelGioioso will construct a DNR approved wastewater treatment plant at its Glenmore-Denmark facility.