CASE STUDY
Sprout Brook Landfill data collection project
Industry
Wastewater Management
Sector
Landfill
Application
Primary Operations
Project Type
Auxiliary Monitoring
01
Background
In 2009, after receiving 25 years of ash from incinerated garbage, the 30-acre Sprout Brook Ash Pit in West Chester County, NY was closed and capped. It was covered with a protective lining and monitored for offsite leachate. To comply with NY DEC regulations and reporting requirements, the leachate flow rate was recorded from 22 independent collection points and leachate samples were tested for heavy metals such as arsenic, chromium, lead, and mercury to ensure liner integrity and protection of the public wastewater system.
However, the monitoring system faced significant challenges. The extremely low flow rate (1 – 2 gal/day) combined with problematic inline piping configurations, including sections with inadequate or adverse slopes, compromised measurement accuracy and reliability. These conditions necessitated a customized monitoring solution.
02
Problem
After more than a decade in operation, the custom monitoring equipment began failing, compromising data accuracy and regulatory compliance. The equipment was housed in non-networked metering pits at each of the 22 test sites, where corrosive conditions required special safety precautions for entry. These hazardous conditions made routine maintenance difficult and accelerated sensor degradation, making data collection unreliable. The system was now failing to address the very issues the original custom solution was designed to solve.
Replacing the proprietary equipment proved nearly impossible. For five years, the facility sought solutions from traditional instrument suppliers and system integrators, only to encounter repeated rejections or non-responses due to the site's unique environmental constraints, budget limitations, and complex engineering requirements.
Meanwhile, NYSDEC continued to demand the same level of detailed reporting established at the outset. The facility faced mounting pressure: failure to comply would result in substantial fines and, more critically, erosion of public trust in the safety of the community's wastewater system.
03
Solution
03
Results
CoStream delivered what five years of vendor searches couldn't: a working solution in under six months.
Timeline:
30 days: Solution designed and presented (March 2023)
30 days: Public bid process
90 days: Engineering, development, procurement, and testing (summer 2023)
2 weeks: Physical installation (October 2023, aligned with annual maintenance)
60 days: Data collection and calibration to achieve reporting accuracy
By December 2023, the facility had restored full NY DEC compliance—eliminating the threat of fines and restoring public confidence in wastewater system protection.
Key Outcomes:
Cost-effective implementation: Cloud-based platform required significantly less capital investment than proprietary alternatives [add specific % or $]
Sustainable solution: Unlike the previous proprietary system, the facility now has an evergreen platform with readily available replacement parts and indefinite support
Reduced site risk: [Add metrics if available: fewer required pit entries, reduced maintenance hours, improved data reliability %]
Enhanced reporting: Real-time flow data and weather correlation strengthened regulatory submissions and provided operational insights
CoStream's ongoing service model allows continuous optimization—the solution continues to improve beyond initial deployment.
Customer Response
Need a quote from Greg on the value of the new system.