The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Losurdo Foods Inc. of Heuvelton has reached a settlement to reduce the amount of pollutants the cheese maker discharges into the municipal water treatment plant, the EPA said.

The Heuvelton water treatment plant discharges the water it treats into the Oswegatchie River, according to the EPA.

Losurdo has agreed to upgrade its cheese manufacturing equipment, resulting in a 16 percent reduction in the amount of nitrate compounds and a 50 percent reduction in the amount of wastewater it sends to the treatment plant each year, the EPA said.

Losurdo uses nitric acid to clean its process lines. When treated, nitric acid produces nitrate compounds. Both chemicals are toxic and can harm eyes, skin, the respiratory system and teeth, and can cause significant damage to streams, lakes and rivers, according to the EPA. The 16 percent reduction in the amount of nitrate compounds Losurdo will send to the municipal water treatment plant amounts to a reduction of 4,500 pounds. By reducing the amount of nitrates and wastewater Losurdo sends to the treatment plant, the company will be reducing the amount of nitrates that are discharged into the Oswegatchie River.

The agreement between Losurdo and the EPA was reached after the company failed to timely report the amount of nitric acid and nitrates it was discharging over a three-year period. Losurdo has also agreed to pay a penalty of $4,525, the EPA said.