Photo caption: Workers clear a tree blocking the Landfill IV access
During a recent storm event late last month, the Oak Ridge Reservation Landfill (ORRL) received approximately 4 inches of rain after working hours ended. This significant amount of rain caused a high volume of runoff and a culvert to backup. Several gravel roads and ditches were damaged or washed out. The influx of rain resulted in stormwater entering the Landfill V leachate system dike.
Crews responded onsite at 2:30 a.m. to manage the stormwater entering the Landfill V leachate system dike and the climbing leachate water levels. They pumped stormwater from the leachate dike to the Landfill V leachate lift station. That same day, the team repaired the leachate area culvert and adjacent roads and ditches before removing a fallen tree that was preventing access to Landfill IV. Remaining repairs were then completed.
“Thank you to everyone involved for their diligence and commitment to safety,” said Josh Pemberton, Onsite Waste Disposition Manager. “Their timely response and actions ensured we continued to operate compliantly.”
Earlier this year, crews removed sediment from the stormwater retention ponds which provided enough capacity for the ponds to handle the stormwater and sediment from this significant rain event. Water levels in the ponds increased during the storm but remained below the emergency spillways meaning the stormwater ponds functioned as designed.
Photo caption: Stormwater pond after the rain event
