The EPA also ordered the facility to apply to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for a permit to discharge wastewater.

Westridge is a medium-sized concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) in the Kaskaskia River watershed in central Illinois with approximately 700 mature dairy cows.

The EPA inspected the facility in April 2009 and found that Westridge was not using best management practices to prevent the discharge of manure and other animal production waste. The EPA also discovered that the facility did not have a state wastewater discharge permit.

Manure and wastewater from animal feeding operations have the potential to contribute pollutants such as nitrogen and phosphorus, organic matter, sediments and pathogens to the environment. Stopping unauthorized discharges may require a facility to build larger waste storage structures or change waste and material handling practices.