An unpermitted discharge of decanted liquid from a biosolids storage basin occurred Monday morning at the City of Danville’s Southside Treatment Plant on Gypsum Road. The plant is used as a pumping station and storage facility for waste sludge biosolids.
An estimated 1,500 gallons entered the Dan River through an outfall storm drain.
The discharge was the result of a pump controller failure. The failure led to an overflow of decanted liquid from the basin.
The discharge was discovered at 7:45 a.m. Site personnel then took immediate corrective action to minimize the amount of liquid entering the storm drain and to prevent further discharge. The controller was repaired. The discharge was stopped at 9:05 a.m.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has been notified.