Landfill Monitoring

Consistently stringent requirements for the surveillance of groundwater plumes beneath landfills resulted in the addition of several sampling well locations in multiple towns over the past year.  Twelve Cape Cod towns currently depend on Department staff for post-closure or operational monitoring of their landfills, while remaining towns stay in continuous communication with landfill monitoring/sampling staff regarding sampling parameters, procedures and supplies and with the Barnstable County Laboratory staff regarding sample analysis.  This results in almost 600 well samplings annually.

The Department has also assisted six towns in the specialized monitoring of soil gases required as part of the landfill closure process.  This has required the use of specialized instrumentation and trained staff.  The availability of this service through the Department has been financially beneficial to participating towns.  Environmental Specialist/Public Health Sanitarian, Lynn Mulkeen, continues to supervise this program.