Landfill Storage Tanks Damaged by Vandals
Vandals damaged storage tanks at Lopez Canyon Landfill, spilling between 2,000 and 3,000 gallons of liquid waste from the dump’s methane gas collection system, city officials said Thursday.
The foul-smelling liquid is condensate generated by the gas collection system and is not considered to be toxic, sanitation officials said. The waste is routinely discharged into the city sewer system.
The damage to four, 500-gallon storage tanks located on the eastern face of the dump was discovered Monday. Sometime over last weekend, vandals broke the nozzles off the tanks, allowing the liquid to seep into the ground.
City officials said that operation of the gas collection system, which is mandated under state code, was not interrupted. They estimate damage to the system at about $2,000.
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