SR&R Environmental is proud to announce that we have been selected to haul and dispose of several millions gallons of landfill leachate in a multi-year contract awarded by New Hanover County!   Leachate is the wastewater that naturally drains out of the landfill into an engineered collection system, and it is usually handled by the landfill’s own wastewater treatment system.  However, in times of extreme precipitation, large amounts of water could overwhelm the system and any excess must be diverted to an alternate disposal route until the system can catch up.  Currently, the county has a permit to discharge this excess into the sewer collection system of the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority where it will receive additional treatment before being discharged.   However, the landfill’s location on Highway 421 doesn’t have a connection to the sewer system so the water must be transported to an approved location for discharge.  SR&R will collect this wastewater using a fleet of stainless steel vacuum tankers which provide the most rapid collection, transportation, and discharge of the water to help reduce costs to the county.

SR&R was selected based on our reputation and our ability to deliver the safest and most cost-effective handling of the waste.  When asked about selecting SR&R in an interview, CFPUA spokesman Mike McGill said “SR&R has years of experience in hazardous waste handling and biohazard waste remediation and is a fully-qualified hazardous waste first responder.”  SR&R CEO Billy Murrell commented “we’re proud of the fact that the County has put its trust in us to handle this problem for them.  We’ve done a lot of work for them over the years involving all manners of environmental issues, large and small, and they know that when they call us there’s just one less thing they’ll need to worry about.  I think there’s real value there.”

For more information on how SR&R can handle your transportation or disposal needs for both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, please visit our contact us page and let us know how we can help!

We’ve received a large amount of public interest, particularly from residents in the Ogden area, regarding the leachate pump and haul contract.  We’ve compiled a list of FAQ’s to help straighten out any confusion. 

What are all those tanker trucks pumping into the ground in Ogden Park?

You may have recently noticed a lot of activity with our trucks and tankers in the Ogden Park area.  Several people a day call and report seeing one of our trucks “pumping something into the sewer” near the baseball fields.  These trucks are filled with leachate, a wastewater created by the landfill.  They have their own treatment system but from time to time it can’t keep up with their volume so the excess must be dealt with.  The landfill has a permit to discharge 56,000 gallons a day into CFPUA’s sewer collection system for additional treatment.  SR&R has a contract to haul this water from the landfill to the CFPUA’s collection point near the park.

What is leachate?

Leachate is essentially the liquids and stormwater runoff that “leaches” out of the landfill.  It is collected and treated in the landfill’s wastewater treatment system.

If they already have a permit, why can’t the landfill just put it straight in the sewer without hauling it?

Unfortunately, the 421 corridor doesn’t currently have sewer access.  Instead, the water is collected via SR&R’s vacuum tankers and transported to an approved location for discharge into the sewer system.

Why did the CFPUA choose the Ogden Park area?

The Ogden park location was chosen by CFPUA based on access and treatability.  First of all, the area is easy for our tankers to access, meaning quick turnaround between loads and reduced cost to the County.  Furthermore, the distance between the park and the CFPUA system allows the leachate to blend with the waste in the sewer, allowing for mixing and much easier treatment.

What happens to the leachate once it’s in the sewer?

The leachate is blended with the sewage and other approved wastewaters and then biologically and chemically treated in the municipal sewer system prior to discharge.   This prevents anything harmful from ever entering the surface waters like rivers or streams.

Is this legal?

Of course!  The CFPUA permits and strictly regulates any and all discharges into their sewer system.  All wastes are verified for treatability prior to acceptance, and very stringent regulations and monitoring are in place to ensure that nothing ever reaches the system that shouldn’t .

Is the leachate water hazardous?

No, it’s not.  While it is true you wouldn’t want to drink it or bathe in it, you wouldn’t want to do that with anything that’s in the sewer!  Everything that enters the sewer, this leachate included, is destined for the wastewater plant where it receives treatment and contaminant removal.

Does this affect me or my drinking water?  Should I be concerned?

Absolutely not.   This will not affect anybody’s drinking water, whether they’re on municipal or well.

Who is allowed to put stuff in the sewer at this location?  Can I put something in the sewer?

Only SR&R or CFPUA are allowed to discharge in this location.   Putting anything into the sewer system without a permit is considered an illicit discharge and is illegal.  This location is monitored and anyone found discharging may face severe civil or criminal charges.