31 October 2014
Horowhenua District Council
Private Bag 4002
File ref: 1/4/HDC
LEVIN 5540
6010
SGS:YKS
Attention Arron Cox
Dear Arron
ROUTINE ASSESSMENT OF ADJOINING LAND OF THE LEVIN
LANDFILL NON-COMPLIANCE REPORT
A routine site visit was carried out on a property adjacent (“property”) to the
Levin Landfill on 14 October 2014. The site visit was in response to concerns
raised by a member of the general public about landfill leachate from the
unlined landfill entering the roadside drain from earthworks located on the
property. Four water quality samples were collected with analytical results
received at Horizons Regional Council (HRC) on 29 October 2014.
As a result of assessing the analytical results Levin Landfill has been given
an overall
Significant Non-Compliance grading for Condition 2 of resource
consent 6010. Please note that since the Levin Landfill is at the time of this
invoice not complying with the conditions of its resource consents, the
compliance monitoring charges are 100 per cent of the full charge as
detailed in the attached cost sheet.
Please find attached a copy of Compliance Assessment Guidelines for your
reference.
If you have any queries about the attached report, please contact me via
email [email address], on direct dial 06 952 2952, or
Freephone 0508 800 800.
Kind regards
Stuart Standen
CONSENTS MONITORING OFFICER
COMPLIANCE REPORT
LEVIN LANDFILL
Consent
6010
Reporting Period
14 October 2014 – 30 October 2014
October 2014
1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A routine site visit was carried out on a property adjacent to the Levin Landfill on
14 October 2014. The site visit was in response to concerns raised by a member of the
general public about landfill leachate from the shallow aquifer down gradient of the
unlined landfill entering the roadside drain from earthworks located on the property.
Leachate from the unlined landfill is known to influence the shallow groundwater
aquifer. This is because groundwater monitoring bores down gradient of unlined landfill
show elevated leachate indicator test results (i.e. ammonia, conductivity and chloride)
when compared to bores up gradient of the unlined landfill.
On 14 October 2014 water quality samples were collected from four sites to determine
if leachate from the unlined landfill had contaminated the property. Water quality
samples were sent to Central Environmental Laboratories (CEL) for analysis. The four
sample site names and CEL sample identification number are as follows:
1.
Farm Drain Tatana – 1007910;
2.
Farm Drain Tatana – 1007911;
3.
Earthworks Site Tatana – 1007912; and
4.
Road Side Drain Hokio Beach Road.
Appendix A shows the four sample locations and corresponding CEL laboratory sample
identification number.
On 29 October 2014 HRC received a copy of the CEL analytical report. The CEL report
shows the sample locations located on the property has been contaminated with
leachate from the unlined landfill. This is because leachate indicator parameters (i.e.
ammonia, conductivity and chloride) from the property sample sites are elevated when
compared to the control site results. For example, Table 1 below compares key
leachate parameters collected from the property to the control site and mean shallow
groundwater results down gradient of the unlined landfill.
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CONDITION 2 RESOURCE CONSNT 6010, WHICH
AUTHORISES
THE
DISCHARGE
OF
LANFILL
LEAHCATE ONTO AND INTO LAND
2.
Landfill leachate shall not contaminate adjoining land.
Monitoring results collected on 14 October 2014 indicate leachate from the unlined
landfill has contaminated adjoining land of the Levin Landfill.
Significant Non-Comply
RECOMMENDATIONS
HRC is concerned for the potential for landfill leachate in the property drains entering
the Hokio Stream via the road culvert. HRC recommends Horowhenua District Council
develop a Sampling Management Plan (SMP) to determine the scale, nature and
volume of landfill leachate entering the drains and potential and actual effects on the
Hokio Stream. The SMP should also contain mitigation options to cease the discharge
of landfill leachate to adjoining properties. The SMP is to be provided to HRC no later
than
7 November 2014. HRC also recommends the property owner be contacted
about this non-compliance issue.
If you have any queries about the attached report, please contact me via email
[email address] or on 0508 800 800.
Kind regards,
Stuart Standen
CONSENTS MONITORING OFFICER
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