MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Marquette County Solid Waste Management Authority (MCSWMA) has been awarded for exceptional status from the EPA for their influence of water quality in the region.
Recently, the MCSWMA was finding higher than normal amounts of Polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) in their discharge system, and needed to do something about it.
The landfill issued an Administrative Consent Order (ACO) with the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), requiring more treatment to these contaminates before being discharged. With this, a $7 million grant was received to build a new reverse osmosis treatment facility.
“Its been a great team effort,” said Mike Stannard, the director of operations for MCSWMA. “Without the help from EGLE, or our consultants at Tetra Tech, this probably never would have happened.”
Currently, there are a number of large lagoons near the landfill where leachate, or rain water sifted through the landfill, is pumped into and treated with aeration. The liquid is then stored in these lagoons over long periods of time, taking up a lot of space.
“Once this RO system gets going, we’re going to be able to get rid of those lagoons, except for two small ones,” said Stannard. “The leachate will go directly into the system and be cleaned and discharged as a clean affluent. We’re reducing the risk of having a leak in the liners of those lagoons by getting rid of them, and taking care of the treatment process much quicker.”
This project will set the Marquette County Landfill as an area leader in PFAS remediation; potentially leading the facility to become a regional PFAS treatment center in the future.
Last month in Washington, D.C., the Marquette County Solid Waste Management Authority was awarded for Exceptional Status in the Excellence in Environmental and Public Health Protection PISCES recognition program. The collaboration was one of six projects selected across the country for outstanding efforts for water quality.
More information on the project and recognition can be found at Michigan.gov/EGLE.
