Calistoga landfill ordered to prevent contaminated water flow into creek

Owners of the Clover Flat Landfill in Calistoga have been ordered to prevent additional releases of contaminated water from the landfill into the Dutch Henry Creek, a tributary of the Napa River, officials with the San Francisco Bay Water Board said Wednesday.

The board previously issued a notice of violation after contaminated water was seen flowing from the landfill at 4380 Silverado Trail North. Then on April 10 the board issued an order that requires the landfill owners, Upper Valley Disposal & Recycling, to take immediate action.

The order requires the landfill owner and operators to prevent additional releases and present a plan for corrective action to prevent the potential environmental hazard from happening again.

The Water Board is monitoring the cleanup at the landfill, and the extent of contamination has yet to be determined. Testing is ongoing, the board said.

The Napa County Public Health Division issued a notice that water contaminated with chemicals and metals have flowed into Dutch Henry Creek, and the public is advised not to consume, use or contact the water.

The Napa County Department of Planning, Building and Environmental Services has ordered the owners to close the landfill to the public, manage its commercial solid waste to prevent contact with drainage and correct operations to prevent more contaminated discharges from the landfill, the Water Board said.

The board and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are monitoring the landfill’s response to the orders, and a recent inspection showed the landfill owners are making progress with the cleanup, the board said.