Skip to Main Content

    Complaint

    132634
    WPC
    7/9/2024
    Other Agency
    Sludge / Bio-solids
    Oil and Grease
    7/9/2024
    30-JUL-2024 07:45AM

    Location based on SITE_ID

    Site ID
    4919
    Site
    Clarksville Gas and Water dba Clarksville Wastewater Treatment Plant
    Location
    15 Quarry Road
    City
    Clarksville
    Description
    -
    County
    Montgomery
    EFO Name
    Nashville
    Site Owner
    City of Clarksville

    Investigation Results

    Referred to other Agency
    7/9/2024
    7/29/2024
    Mike Horsley SWM
    7/12/2024

    Complaint Description and Writeup

    Complainant states that: On Tuesday June 25, 2024, two truck loads of waste were dumped onto a drying pad at Clarksville Waste Water Treatment Plant. The waste appeared to have some sort of oily material, as it was black in color, slick, and repelled water. As it sat in the pad, any runoff from this waste was pumped into the treatment plant. The waste was put into a dumpster, and that dumpster was then put under a trash chute to be covered with garbage. I’m not sure what will happen with this particular dumpster, but they are usually dumped into a landfill. It’s unclear what this material is, or if it is safe, as no testing was performed.

    CLW Called Brian Shelton with Clarksville WWTP-Lift Station 1-2 years ago that industrial used had discharged oil/ black substance, did clean up and billed them and enforced against. He received call from sewer crews to go back out there and looks like residuals were still in the pipe and were pumped out and sent to the WWTP. Mr. Shelton was unaware they pumped and brought it to the WWTP until it had happened. Industry is Hancook (waiting for verification from PT coordinator), uses carbon black in industry process, fine graphite powder that can look really dark. Called landfill to determine what they can do, mix rags from pumped loads with headworks sludge usually, landfill said they were okay with them bringing it to them and mixing as usual. Mr. Shelton unsure if it has made it to the landfill yet and they did not see an interruption in treatment at the WWTP. Waiting for additional details from PT coordinator.

    More detailed information from Mr. Brian Shelton- "The waste in question came from our Steelstock pumping station located in our industrial park. We have had a couple of incidents in recent years at this location. A work order was turned in for our vac truck to pump the station out due to solids buildup and rags. No detail of oil or grease was in the work order. The vac operator vacuumed the station out and dumped it at the WWTP. The operators noticed a darker color in the wet well but didn't think it was oil. The vac truck operator thought it looked like leachate that the landfill had discharged. During the month of May the landfill was having trouble with their process and their discharge was darker than normal. After it was dumped it was observed to have oil residual and a black color. We let it dry on the pad and and mixed it in the headworks screenings since it was similar material."

    Samples were not collected at any point by the WWTP

    7/12/2024 Meeting with Solid Waste and DWR to determine action steps, emailed Mr. Shelton that sampling must be conducted on the wet well and dumpster for TCLP RCRA 8 Metals
    Oil & Grease
    Copper, Cadmium, Chromium, Nickel, Lead, Silver, Zinc, and Cyanide
    7/22/2024 Initial sample results provided
    7/24/2024 Additional sample results provided
    7/29/2024 Notified Mr. Shelton with Clarksville WWTP- after speaking with Mr. Horsley in Solid Waste, they are cleared to dispose of the waste if mixed with kitty litter so no liquids are left, it should be fine to go into a Class I landfill such as Bi County at Woodlawn
    If you have any questions or comments, call us at (615) 532-0287 or email the TDEC Help Desk at BG-Help_Desk@tn.gov.