INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — In an effort to deal with liquid that drains from the landfill in an environmentally safe manner, county officials have embarked on a state-of-the-art treatment solution. The wastewater treatment solution is the result of a public-private partnership between the county Solid Waste Disposal District Facility, Heartland Water Technology and county commissioners.
“The Indian River Sustainability Center will use Heartland’s Leachate Concentrator to evaporate leachate (wastewater) onsite, and has the capability to handle up to 30,000 gallons per day,” County Commissioner Chairman Joseph Earman said in a statement.
The Low Momentum High Turbulence Concentrator is a wastewater treatment process involving the use of hot gases and evaporation, according to Heartland Water Technology’s website. The new machinery will use renewable energy at the landfill, lower costs for the county along with citizens, and avoid up to 10 truck trips per day for off-site disposal, county officials said.
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new sustainability center will be held from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Solid Waste Disposal District, 1325 74th Avenue Southwest, Vero Beach. Those planning to attend should wear closed toed shoes, along with safety glasses and a vest that will be provided on site.
“Heartland is a proven leader in the leachate treatment space. By engaging Heartland’s Leachate Management Service, we have a solution for the county’s leachate that both lowered cost and improved environmental outcomes,” Solid Waste Disposal District Managing Director Himanshu Mehta said.
“This facility is located next to the landfill which is critical to containment. (The Heartland Concentrator) will treat the landfill’s leachate and return clean water vapor to the environment.”
All landfills build up wastewater, or leachate, as rainwater filters through the landfills. Indian River County produces 25,000 gallons of this liquid per day, county officials said.
The new technology comes during a time when landfill operators across the country are dealing with rising costs of offsite disposal, county officials said. Heartland Water Technology CEO Earl Jones said the leadership team in Indian River County – from the commissioners to the Solid Waste Disposal District – reflect the best in good government.
“This is a good news story all around,” Earman said.
To attend the ribbon cutting, RSVP to kmurray@heartlandtech.com.