Projects

MOST RECENT ACTIONS & Updates

May 2025
 

• May 7 - The landfill gas flare will go offline from 7 a.m. through 4 p.m. as a pump is replaced and maintenance is performed on H2S removal tanks and the flame arrestor. There may be an increased chance for odors to migrate off-site during this time period.

April 2025
 

• April 28 - ACUA is working on a solution to fix a pump and air compressor that failed in the morning hours of April 28. Depending on weather conditions, there may be an increased chance for odors to migrate offsite while the equipment is offline.
• April 9 - Excavation work for the permanent cap is underway. As soil is removed from the area, there may be an increased chance for odors to migrate off-site. In addition, the landfill gas flare will go offline for maintenance at 2 p.m. for approximately four hours. This may also increase the chance for odors to migrate off-site.

• April 2 - Excavation work will begin for the application of a permanent cap over 16 acres of ACUA's landfill. The cap will increase landfill gas collection efficiency, reduce leachate generation, improve stormwater quality and minimize the potential for odors to migrate off-site.

March 2025
 

• March 31 - 8 acres of temporary cap will be reapplied to the area in red below. The temporary cap was removed in 2024 to place additional waste. Once restored, the temporary cap will contribute to improved gas collection efficiency.
• March 11 - A pump failure occurred during the overnight hours of March 10. ACUA is awaiting the arrival of a replacement pump. The existing pump will operate intermittently in the interim. Depending on weather conditions, there may be an increased chance for odors to migrate offsite.
• March 8 - The landfill gas flare will be taken offline from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for maintenance. Depending on weather conditions, there may be an increased chance for odors while the main flare is offline.

February 2025
 

• February 20 - The landfill gas flare will be taken offline for approximately 2 hours beginning at 1:30 p.m. as a frozen sump is removed for maintenance. Depending on weather conditions, there may be an increased chance for odors while the main flare is offline.

January 2025
 

• January 23 - The flare was offline during the evening and early morning hours of January 22/23. The cold weather caused a break in one of the gas pipes in our landfill gas collection system. This resulted in damage to the actuator valve on our flare system. The valve and collection pipe are now undergoing repairs. There may have been an increased chance of offsite odors associated with this incident. The flare is now back online.
• January 17 -  ​In the evening hours of January 16, the air compressor responsible for controlling the pumps that remove liquid from the landfill gas header system failed. The issue was identified around 7:00 a.m. on January 17 and resolved promptly, with the compressor replaced by 7:45 AM. There may have been an increased chance of offsite odors associated with this incident.

December 2024
 

• December 9 - The main flare and media tanks will shut down approximately four to six hours beginning at 12 p.m. for maintenance. Depending on weather conditions, there may be an increased chance for odors while the main flare is offline.
• December 6 - The main flare will shut down for approximately two hours beginning at 9 a.m. for an inspection. Depending on weather conditions, there may be an increased chance for odors while the main flare is offline.

November 2024
 

• November 26 - The bid to cap 16 acres of the landfill has been awarded. Construction is expected to commence in February 2025. The cap will increase landfill gas collection efficiency, reduce the generation of leachate, improve stormwater quality, and minimize the impact of potential offsite odors.
• November 13 - The main flare will shut down from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. as maintenance is performed on the flare and flame arrestor. Depending on weather conditions, there may be an increased chance for odors while the main flare is offline.
• November 8 - All well drilling has been completed. 32 new or redrilled wells have been connected to the new gas collection system pipelines. The new collection system will undergo ongoing tuning for the next few weeks to optimize the collection efficiency. The old gas collection system with be fully capped and decommissioned during the week of November 11.
• November 1 - 22 of 32 landfill gas collection wells have been installed. The drill rig is currently undergoing repairs. The remaining wells are expected to be installed by the end of next week. The expanded gas collection pipeline is 100% installed, and the new header system has been activated.
   

• October 30 - the main landfill gas flare will shut down as work is done on the flare's flame arrestor. Depending on weather conditions, there may be an increased chance for odors while the main flare is offline.
• October 28 -  the landfill gas flare will shut down from 9 to 10:30 a.m. as work is done on the flare's flame arrestor. Depending on weather conditions, there may be an increased chance for odors while the main flare is offline.
• October 25 - the landfill gas flare shut down for approximately 30 minutes on Friday, October 25.
• October 24 - the landfill gas flare will be shut down for approximately two hours beginning at 3 p.m. on Thursday, October 24. Depending on weather conditions, there may be an increased chance for odors while the main flare is offline.
• October 23 – 7 wells that were decommissioned for active filling operations in Cell 3 were brought back online. Additional lateral piping that transports landfill gas was put into place.  
• October 21 - The pump that removes liquid at the flare failed in the evening hours of October 21. During routine rounds staff noticed a buildup of liquid, identified the issue, and worked to put in a temporary fix. The replacement piece needed to resolve the issue was put in place by the morning of October 22. 
• October 18 - The expanded gas collection pipeline network is 95% installed. It will be completed during the week of October 21.

• October 17 - there was an outage in the gas collection and control system due to a clog in our flare system's flame arrestor. During the outage, there many have been an increased potential for odors to migrate off-site. 
• October 17 - drilling commenced on the 32 new or upgraded collection wells. Drilling will be completed during the week of October 28. Beginning October 21, previously decommissioned wells in Cell 3 will come back online. Beginning October 28, the new wells and header system will be activated and the old system will be decommissioned. 

• October 15 - the main landfill gas flare will be shut down for approximately four hours on Wednesday, October 16, between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. to connect newly installed header pipe. Depending on weather conditions, there may be an increased chance for odors while the main flare is offline.
• October 11 - Installation of expanded 18” header pipe is complete. Installation on additional connecting pipeline that conveys gases from the wells to the header pipe is 80% complete. Drilling of 32 new or upgraded gas collection wells will begin on Monday, October 14. The drilling is expected to take approximately three weeks. During this time, there is an increased potential for odors to migrate off-site. 
• October 8 - There were complications during the change out of the medium used in our H2S control and cleanup system. This temporarily reduced collection system efficiency and caused an increase in offsite odor. 
• October 4 - more than half of the additional header pipe and connected pipeline has been installed throughout the landfill. It is expected to be completed by October 14.  Well drilling was set to begin the week of October 7. It will likely be a few days behind schedule (drill rig has been delayed getting to the site due to the hurricane). Two additional wells have also been added to the drilling plan. 

Photo shows landfill gas collection pipe that is being installed. 

September 2024

• September 18 - excavation is being done to prepare for the installation of new header pipe throughout the landfill. 

• September 17 - the main landfill gas flare will be shut down for 10-14 hours beginning at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, September 17, while upgrades to the collection system are performed. A backup flare will operate during this time. Depending on weather conditions, residents may experience odors while the main flare is offline.
• September 16 - The landfill gas collection system will be shut down for less than one hour as a pump is installed. 
• September 13 - ACUA and its partner OPAL Fuels are actively working on major improvements to the landfill gas collection system. The site is currently being excavated in preparation for the extension of 18” header pipe around 2,500 linear feet of the landfill. Installation of 30+ new collection wells or redrills is expected to begin the week of September 23. This work is being done proactively in locations where landfill gas production is expected to occur in the coming months.
• September 4 - the utility flare will be tied back into the landfill gas collection system. The system will shut down at approximately 9 a.m. for 2.5 hours while this work is performed. 
• September 3 - A sump pump that removed liquid (condensation) from the landfill collect gas system failed during the evening hours of September 3. The failure of this pump can cause the gas collection system to experience blockages from liquid building up in the vacuum pipeline. Upon discovery of this pump failure, crews immediately began to work on a solution to bring the system back. The repair is currently underway and is expected to be online by the end the day (September 4).  

August 2024

• August 28 - the utility (backup) landfill gas flare was placed offline to relocate it as part of contstruction work for the RNG project. 
• August 16 - On Friday morning, ACUA staff discovered that a drip leg in the gas collection system had been compromised due to debris accumulation. The team promptly cleared the blockage by opening the low point and cleaning the trap using a vactor truck. This maintenance work temporarily interrupted the flare’s operation for approximately one hour while restoring the 12-inch section of the system to full functionality.

July 2024

Beginning the first week of August, a major expansion to ACUA's gas collection and control system will be completed. This includes:

• 38-40 landfill gas redrills and new wells
• 2 dewatering sumps
• 2,500 linear feet (LF) of 18” header
• 2,800 LF of 12” header
• 500 LF of 8” header
• 6,600 LF of 6” header
• 12,000 LF of 2-3” air line (for future development in 2025)

This infrastructure will enhance our existing gas collection system, improving both current and future collection efficiency, and laying the groundwork for dewatering pumps in targeted vertical wells. To date this scope of work is the most comprehensive in scale ever developed under a single construction phase.

In addition the ACUA's permanent capping project is underway. The project is expcted to go out to bid in August/September and will cover 16 acres of the landfill. 

Signficant progress has also been made on the renewable natural gas project, which will substantially impact overall site emissions.

• July 18 - During the overnight hours, a header pipe was broken affecting gas collection. Temporary repairs were made overnight. Staff are making permanent repairs to restore full collection to the affected area.  The repair should be complete by 11 a.m. 
• July 10 - The landfill gas flare will go offline for approximately 4 hours on Wednesday, July 10, and Thursday, July 11. There may be an increase in odors during this time period. 

June 2024
 

• June 26 - The landfill gas system will temporarily go offline on Thursday, June 27, for approximately 1-2 hours beginning at 9 a.m. There may be a brief increase in odors during this time period.
• June 21 - The landfill gas flare will temporarily go offline for approximately 1 hour beginning at 1:15 p.m. as work to the collection system is performed. There may be a brief increase in odors during this time period.
• June 19 – The landfill gas collection system will temporarily go offline as preventative maintenance is performed on a generator. There may be a brief increase in odors as this work is completed.
• June 6 – ACUA’s landfill gas flare will turn off for 30 minutes at approx. 2 p.m. today. There may be an increased chance for odors during this time. Opal Fuels, a partner in ACUA’s renewable natural gas project, will be connecting a generator to run the gas flare and leachate system for approx. 3 weeks as essential utility power lines are upgraded.  

May 2024

• May 25 - ACUA has experienced a mechanical issue with a pump that removes condensation from the gas collection system. Due to the pump failure, a reduction in gas collection has occurred. Crews are working diligently to fix the problem and return the gas collection to normal levels. The time frame for this event is Saturday, May 25,  into Sunday, May 26. 
   

• May 21 - Grading is being performed around the perimeter of the landfill to prevent erosion and help with stormwater control. This operation may lead to an increase in odors.

  Grading is also being performed along the active portion of the landfill to ensure consistent elevation, which typically does not contribute to odors. This grading will prepare the area for the installation of permanent cap. The cap will cover 16.7 acres (show in red below) and is currently in design. It is expected to go out to bid by the end of summer and be in place by the end of the year. This cap will help contain gases and prevent odors.
   

• May 14 - Residents may have experienced a temporary increase in odors as adjustments to a leachate pump were completed.
• May 6 – Grading and hydroseeding is completed along side slopes.

April 2024

• April 30 - Two portable neutralene misters were installed at the landfill that will help neutralize odors. Neutralene is a non-toxic substance that absorbs and breaks down odor compounds. 

• April 29 - Excessive rainfall has caused a significant increase in leachate production at the landfill. Three sumps were installed at cell 10, cell 8 and cell 6 to prevent excess leachate from ponding along the landfill slopes and direct it to pump stations. 
• April 22 – 5 vertical landfill gas wells were temporarily disconnected for landfill operations and reconnected to the gas collection system.
• April 15 – Work to protect the side slopes of the landfill from weather-related deterioration begins. The slopes will be graded, covered, and hydroseeded. 

    



March 2024

• March 21 - the sump installation is complete, and the gas collection system is back online.
• March 20 - The expected replacement of a sump is in process. This requires the gas collection system to be shut down for several hours. Depending on weather conditions, residents may experience odors while the system is offline.
• March 18 - ACUA will be replacing a sump on Wednesday, March 20, that will require the gas collection system to go offline as work is completed. Depending on weather conditions, residents may experience odors while the system is offline. The new sump will reduce water from infiltrating the vacuum system.
• March 13 - The new header pipe has been installed, and the gas collection system is back online. The wellfield will be adjusted over the next few days to optimize gas collection efficiency.
• March 12 - Expected work to the header is in process. This required the gas collection system to be shut down for several hours. The system is expected to go offline again for approximately 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on March 13.

• March 11 -  ACUA expects to perform necessary upgrades to its landfill gas collection system on Tuesday, March 12, and Wednesday, March 13, 2024, that may impact odors. The gas collection header pipe, which will increase gas collection capacity, is being replaced and connected to the existing gas collection system. To complete this work, the collection system will need to go offline periodically on March 12 and 13. Depending on weather conditions, residents may experience odors while the system is offline. 
• March 4 – heavy rainfall from Saturday, March 2, infiltrated the collection system and led to a temporary increase in odors. Additional rainfall is expected throughout the week. Currently, ACUA staff manually removes liquids through pumps and other measures. New wellheads are expected to be installed during the second quarter of 2024, which will remove liquids automatically and improve gas collection/decrease odors related to heavy rainfall.
• March 1 - a small disconnection between pipes caused a decrease in gas collection between 1:30 and 5 a.m. The pipeline has since been reconnected.  

February 2024

• February 29 - new header pipe has been installed, and the new wells will be connected to it in early March. The new header pipe will increase gas collection capacity.
• February 1 - 19 wells have been connected to the system. 

January 2024

• January 25 -  19 gas wells have been installed. 17 have been connected to the system. The remaining 2 will be connected within the next week. 2 wells intended for installation were removed from the project due to accessibility issues.
• January 11 -  13 of the 15 installed wells have been connected to the system. 2 of the 6 additional wells have been installed.
• January 10 - Heavy winds damaged the temporary cap.  All 15 new gas wells are installed. Based on existing site conditions, it was determined that an additional 6 wells will be added to this current installation project. 
• January 8 - 14 of the 15 gas wells have been installed. 
• January 4 - 7 of the newly installed gas wells have been hooked up to the gas collection system.

December 2023

• December 29 - 5 of the newly installed gas wells have been hooked up to the gas collection system.
• December 22 - 11 of the 15 gas wells have been installed. The temporary cap has been repaired.
• December 19 - 7 of the 15 gas wells have been installed.
• December 18 - Rain and high winds damaged the temporary cap. Repairs will occur later this week.
• December 16 - 5 of the 15 gas wells have been installed.
• December 11 - Drilling begins on 15 additional gas well installations. As wells are installed, there may be a slight increase in odors caused by this activity. This is temporary and will dissipate as wells are connected to the landfill gas collection system.

• November 16 - ACUA completes installation of 4,000 ft. of landfill gas pipeline and connected nine gas wells.

How We Control Landfill Odors

Historical Investment in Odor Control

Data current as of October 2024

MAILING LIST

Sign up by email to receive information on projects and activities related to landfill gas and odor control.

REPORT AN Odor