Environmental Protection
The Williamson County Landfill is operated safely and in compliance with stringent state and federal environmental laws. WM meets or exceeds state and federal environmental requirements designed to protect groundwater and surface water.
The landfill is scientifically engineered to minimize environmental impacts through use of sound planning, design and operations, which provide safe, long-term disposal of waste within its facility.
Groundwater protection is an integral part of construction and operations. The landfill uses a time-tested, federally-approved composite liner system designed to protect groundwater. Groundwater monitoring wells located around the perimeter of the site are sampled and analyzed on a scheduled basis by trained monitoring technicians. The water quality data is evaluated by independent professionals and submitted directly to TCEQ.
A leachate collection and extraction system is placed over the liner system. (Leachate is the liquid generated from rainfall and the natural decomposition of waste.) Leachate is collected in protected sumps and pumped to leachate storage tanks.
To manage storm water runoff, the Williamson County Landfill uses silt fences, rock dams, erosion control mats, and other best management practices. To ensure protection of Mustang Creek, WM takes quarterly storm water samples and analyzes them for silt and metals.