MOUNT Gambier City Council has implemented a number of contingency measures to improve leachate management at Caroline Landfill following record levels of rain last June.
The management of contaminated storm water leaching from landfill became an issue last winter when leachate storage ponds reached critical storage levels.
Council installed 15 x 70,000 litre temporary storage bladders, constructed a 500mm high temporary embankment around one of the leachate ponds and carted and disposed of 6.1m litres of leachate in the sewer.
The emergency measures cost around $260,000 and avoided any environmental harm.
The measures will provide a significant buffer for above average rainfall for the remainder of winter.
Council is undertaking field trials using techniques to aid the increased evaporation of leachate from the evaporation ponds.
A report will be presented to council’s Environmental Sustainability Committee when the outcomes of the trials have been completed.
