FAQ

A deepwell allows for the secure injection of nonhazardous wastewater into deep geologic formations with impermeable confining structures. These confining structures prevent the movement of the wastewater. This process is highly protective of drinking water aquifers used for human consumption or other purposes.

More information on deepwells can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/uic/general-information-about-injection-wells.

The Ottawa Deepwell will consist of two Class 1, non-hazardous wells that will inject treated wastewater into locations at depths between approximately 5,400 – 7,400 feet below ground level. These wells will only be used for treated wastewater – also known as leachate – which is a byproduct of waste decomposition and landfill operations.

The Ottawa Deepwell system will operates under permits issued by the U.S. EPA and the Michigan EGLE. The wells are permitted and regulated through the Underground Injection Control (UIC) and Mineral Well Act programs.

Regulators have the right to inspect the facility to ensure compliance with all the regulations and permits and receives operations and compliance reports.

Ottawa County Farms Landfill, Inc.

Safety is the top priority for the Ottawa Deepwell project team, and implementing safeguards begins long before the facility is constructed, or wells are drilled. Working with U.S. EPA and the Michigan EGLE, the Ottawa Deepwell project team undertook a detailed geological study, including modeling, testing and verification, to ensure the injection zone is safe to accept and confine the wastewater, consistent with applicable guidelines.

Once construction begins, the Ottawa Deepwell project team will conduct additional extensive performance testing by injecting clean water into the wells to ensure geological conditions are consistent with design expectations. This testing ensures that the wells will be capable of performing as designed when wastewater is injected.

As part of a highly engineered design, the wells will offer strong environmental protections, including:

• Multiple barriers of concrete and steel casing;
• Well casings set in concrete over 3,700 feet below ground level, nearly eight times the depth of the deepest usable groundwater;
• Additional steel casing and concrete set in the well bores to more than 5,400 feet below ground level;
• Pressurized seals in-between the casing and the injection tubing to ensure the wastewater is injected into the designated formation;
• Pressure sensors within the well to ensure that seals are secure and automatically shut off in the event of a pressure variation;
• Regularly scheduled mechanical integrity testing; and
• Regular inspections by federal and state regulators.

In addition to the above safeguards, the facility will:

• Verify that wastewater passes multiple tests and sampling checkpoints in an onsite lab before disposal;
• Properly store, process, and treat wastewater in a closed system of surface tanks before injection;
• Establish and maintain detailed safety, emergency preparedness and spill containment plans;
• Employ remote monitoring and technical redundancies to allow for automatic shut-down, if necessary; and
• Require extensive employee training to ensure compliance with all permits, statutes and regulations, as well as our own industry-leading safety program.

The average combined injection rate for both wells is anticipated to be 125 gallons per minute (maximum 180 gpm for the site).

The wells will inject treated liquids from Ottawa County Farms Landfill. Any precipitation or liquids that are the byproduct of waste decomposition must be properly disposed. Today, landfill liquids are collected from the landfill and held in an on-site storage tank before being transported off-site. The Ottawa Deepwell will be entirely dedicated to disposing of these liquids.

All liquid waste disposed of at the Ottawa Deepwell is to be injected more than a mile below the surface into a thick layer of a confined, naturally brine filled formations. The injection zone is well defined through extensive testing and the well is constructed to ensure that the waste only goes into the defined, permitted injection zone. Constant monitoring of the wells different pressures and operating conditions makes sure that the well is operating properly, or it is shut down.

U.S. EPA issues 10-year permits for deepwells. Permits may be renewed.

Once the facility ceases operation, it is closed in accordance with its approved closure plan, which is part of the facility’s permit. All waste is removed from the facility and disposed of through the deep wells or off-site facilities. The well bore will be filled with cement from bottom to top. All tanks, pipes and equipment would be decontaminated, disassembled, and properly disposed, or recycled. The entire site would then be decontaminated to the requirements of federal and state regulation.

No. The deepwell injection point is more than 5,400 feet below ground and is isolated by many rock layers from the bottom of the lake – the wells will be completed about 4,400 ft lower than the deepest point in Lake Michigan (approximately 925 ft).