By Quinn O’Hara

The Clay County Solid Waste Landfill has been fined $3,000 by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for a broken leachate pond pump. 

Leachate is the result of rainwater flowing through and mixing with landfill waste. The system is located at the very bottom of a landfill and consists of a network of collection pipes that sit above a barrier of clay and a synthetic liner to prevent the contamination of groundwater and surrounding earth. The leachate is then removed with the help of a pump and transferred into storage containers to be properly disposed of. The Clay County Commission has approved a motion to pay the fine and has ordered the Clay County Solid Waste Landfill to find a local business to facilitate the replacement of the broken pump.