By Dan Klepal
Enquirer staff writer

COLERAIN TWP. - The Rumpke Landfill is still leaking, two months after a "seep" of black, contaminated water was found pooling along Banklick Creek.

Officials with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency say the leak does not appear to be getting into the waterway, thanks largely to a containment wall Rumpke has constructed to protect the creek.

Rumpke apparently sprung its leak in July, which is when landfill officials noticed a small pool of black liquid on the creek bank. It was high in ammonia.

The leak is in an area near the site of a gigantic garbage landslide in 1996.

EPA believes the waste water was left in place after the landslide - an area without a liner, which makes it vulnerable to groundwater contamination.

Landfill manager Larry Riddle said it is unclear if the leak is active, or if contaminated water had built over time and is just now draining. Ruddle described the amount of the leak as "less than gallons per day."

"You can liken it to a situation where we closed the valve and there is still water in the pipeline between the valve and (end of the pipe)," Riddle said.

OEPA spokeswoman Heather Lauer said her agency hasn't performed any of the water sampling tests., It has left that job to Rumpke. It is unclear if the landfill will face any fines because of the leak. It was fined $1 million for the landslide.

"We've issued them a notice of violation, and right now this is something we have evidence they're working to contain," Lauer said. "And while they're working to contain it, that's our first focus. Ultimately, what we want to see a company do is come into compliance, and that's what they're trying to do."

The area inside the containment wall shows high levels of ammonia - 34.8 parts per million as recently as Sept. 2.

Ammonia of 1 part per million is considered normal.

Rumpke has hired a consultant to monitor the situation, and to perform tests to see if the leak has contaminated groundwater outside of the landfill boundaries.

After that testing is complete, Rumpke must file a report with the OEPA, along with a cleanup plan.

"Right now we don't believe there is any impact off of our property," Riddle said. "The studies will help us understand where the seep may have gone on our property."

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E-mail dklepal@enquirer.com