The city of Richmond Hill no longer has to pay fines of up to $1,500 a month to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division now that its wastewater treatment plant is fully functional.

Mayor Harold Fowler made the announcement at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

The city signed a consent order with the EPD in 2008 that dictated the construction of the new facility and had paid fines for the past decade for violating discharge permits. The plant started operating April 8 and received approval to begin full operation starting Sunday.

Charles Heino of Enviroworx, a private company the city contracts with for public works, said the facility is handling about 1.5 million gallons a day. Its capacity is 3 million gallons and can be expanded to 4 million.

The $24 million project is being paid for by an $8 per month increase in the base rate for water and sewer bills and connection fees for new construction.