Landfill treatment system offline; board discusses large leachate totals and data issues

The district’s landfill treatment system is temporarily out of service because a valve is malfunctioning, landfill manager Paulson told the board Jan. 8. A technician has been engaged and staff are scheduling replacement and interim hauling to maintain pond levels.

Directors raised questions about a reported six-month leachate total of about 1,300,000 gallons compared with roughly 230,000 gallons for the same period in 2024. Paulson said weather patterns, invasive-vegetation removals that required pond cleanouts (one cleanout removed roughly 276,000 gallons), and gaps in December 2024 data population explain much of the variance. Staff acknowledged an error in the December 2024 entry that underreported that month’s volume and said corrected figures will narrow the apparent difference.

"Our treatment system is down right now because one of the valves is not working correctly," Paulson said. Staff are hauling some leachate while awaiting parts and vendor scheduling to restore treatment.

Board members had no further action at this meeting beyond requesting follow-up information; staff will continue to monitor the pond, haul as needed, and report back when the valve is replaced and reconciled volumes are confirmed.