Water Protection Activities in Washtenaw County

The Washtenaw County Solid Waste Plan addresses concerns
associated with storage of waste in landfills.
The Home Toxics Reduction Program is designed to keep
hazardous materials out of the landfills, thereby reducing
potential for future contaminant seepage. The Home Toxics
Reduction Program has collected approximately 365 tons or
730,000 pounds of toxic waste between 1994 and 2004, which
may otherwise have been diverted to landfills.
In addition, any new landfill would be required to be
constructed with a double liner system to minimize the
potential of landfill leakage.
Next Steps:
Continue facilitating successful programs like the Home
Toxics Reduction Program. Work to implement the
recommendations of the Solid Waste Plan.
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Landfill Response Example: Ann Arbor Landfill
The City of Ann Arbor Landfill is located in the
southwest corner of Ellsworth and Platt Roads. Phase I of
the landfill has been leaking, creating a groundwater
contamination plume migrating northeast. The main
contaminants of concern are 1,4-dioxane and vinyl
chloride. Other contaminants detected in the leachate are
benzene, chloroform, methyl chloride, zinc and 1,2dichlorethane.
Phase I operated between 1940 and 1984,
collecting waste mainly from municipal sources, but it
may have also accepted industrial wastes. The landfill is
divided into segments, some of which are unlined.
There is concern that the landfill’s contaminants will find
their way into the groundwater, or the Huron River via
Swift Run Drain. To prevent further contamination, a
slurry wall was installed to halt the flow of groundwater
into the landfill, and three purge wells were installed to
collect the leachate. The leachate is collected and
discharged to the wastewater treatment plant, where it is
combined with other wastewater. The effluent that is
discharged from the plant has a 1,4-dioxane content
between 1 and 2 parts per billion (ppb), although the
influent receives no specific treatment for 1,4-dioxane.
The effluent is discharged to the Huron River,
downstream of the city’s drinking water intake.
The contamination collection system and discharge to the
wastewater system is permitted by MDEQ and meets
State requirements. The City of Ann Arbor is currently
evaluating treatment technologies to further reduce the
concentration of 1,4-dioxane and vinyl chloride in the
leachate before discharging it to the wastewater or
groundwater.