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WQARF | Silverbell Landfill - Overview

WQARF Site

Silverbell Landfill | Overview

Revised On: Jan. 4, 2024 - 10:43 a.m.

Registry placement date: April 23, 1999

Score: 51

County: Pima

Location

The Silverbell Golf Course at 3200 N. Silverbell Road in northwest Tucson. The site is approximately bounded by the Santa Cruz river to the east and north, Silverbell Tree Drive on the south, and Silverbell Road on the west.

If you own a private well, live in or near the site boundaries, and have not had your well tested, please contact ADEQ.

Contaminants of Concern

Tetrachloroethene (PCE), trichloroethene (TCE), cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-1,2-DCE) and vinyl chloride

Action Taken

In 2001, the City of Tucson (COT) began operation of a full-scale soil vapor extraction (SVE) system to remove and treat contaminated volatile organic compounds (VOC) and landfill gases contributing to groundwater contamination. From December 2006 until 2008, the system operated intermittently to control methane migration. In April 2008, the system was shut down and the equipment was removed. The City still conducts soil-gas rebound testing periodically.

In 2010, COT proposed to install a pump-and-treat (P+T) system to address the contaminant plume in the groundwater under the Site. Several rounds of design revisions and modelling followed. Construction of the treatment system began in November 2018, and concluded in late 2019.

Status

The Groundwater Extraction and Treatment System (GETS) began full-time operation in April 2020.  The system uses granular active carbon to treat up to one thousand gallons of VOC-contaminated groundwater, extracted from three wells, per minute. The treated water is then piped to the Sweetwater Recharge Facility for infiltration back into the aquifer.

Community Advisory Board (CAB)

Not applicable under “old WQARF” laws/rules. 

ADEQ Project Manager
520-628-6714
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ADEQ Community Involvement Coordinator
602-771-8007
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ADEQ Silvercroft Wash Release Site Contact
ADEQ Project Manager
602-771-4847
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