Richmond Halts Improper Wastewater Discharge from Chesterfield Landfill

TL;DR: Richmond has directed a waste treatment company to cease improper discharge of landfill leachate-derived wastewater into the city's treatment system, citing permit violations.

The story

The City of Richmond has issued a violation notice to Aqua Clean Environmental of Virginia, LLC, a Richmond-based pretreatment facility located at 710 Hospital Street, for improper wastewater discharge. The facility accepted leachate from the Shoosmith Landfill and discharged wastewater derived from that leachate into Richmond's municipal wastewater treatment system in violation of its permit. Scott Morris, Director of the Richmond Department of Public Utilities, confirmed the city is considering enforcement action against the company.

The action reflects broader environmental violations at the Shoosmith Landfill, located off Ironbridge Road in Chesterfield County. The facility generates approximately 50,000 to 65,000 gallons of leachate daily. In 2024, Chesterfield County suspended the landfill's permit to discharge leachate directly into the county wastewater system after discovering that the landfill had bypassed portions of its pretreatment system, failed to properly maintain treatment infrastructure, and submitted falsified records that concealed improper discharges.

Following the county's permit suspension, the landfill began hauling its leachate offsite by truck to facilities including Aqua Clean for treatment. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality issued a Notice of Violation in February 2026 documenting dark liquid bearing the appearance of leachate entering waterways leading to Swift Creek and Piney Branch, which eventually connect to the Appomattox River and James River. Testing identified elevated levels of suspended solids, ammonia, and zinc in those discharges.

The Shoosmith Landfill ceased accepting most waste in December 2022 and filed for bankruptcy in 2025. The facility has only $19 million in financial assurance against an estimated long-term cleanup cost of approximately $173 million. The landfill's operators face criminal investigation by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality in coordination with the state Attorney General's office.

Key players

• Aqua Clean Environmental of Virginia, LLC: Richmond-based pretreatment facility that accepted landfill leachate and discharged treated wastewater into Richmond's system
• Scott Morris: Director of Richmond Department of Public Utilities; confirmed violation notice and enforcement consideration
• City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities: Issued violation notice and is considering enforcement action
• Shoosmith Landfill: Chesterfield County landfill generating 50,000-65,000 gallons of leachate daily; source of contaminated material

Why it matters: Richmond residents rely on a municipal wastewater system designed for standard household and industrial waste, not contaminated landfill leachate. The improper discharge threatens the integrity of that system and ultimately affects water quality in the James River watershed, which supplies drinking water and supports ecosystems used by residents throughout the region.

Places

• Shoosmith Landfill
• Swift Creek
• Piney Branch
• Appomattox River
• James River
• Aqua Clean Environmental facility (710 Hospital Street, Richmond)+Chesterfield+VA)

Related links

• Chesterfield County: Denied Enforcement Authority Over Landfills
• Virginia legislature grants emergency funds to close leaking landfill in Chesterfield
• Shoosmith landfill owners facing criminal investigation

Read the original at Richmond Times-Dispatch →

Sources

• Why Richmond Residents Should Be Paying Attention to Shoosmith Landfill
• Accountability questions remain over former Shoosmith Landfill
• Va. legislature grants emergency funds to help close leaking, bankrupt landfill in Chesterfield
• Bankrupt Virginia landfill poses potential environmental catastrophe
• Preventable disaster: Toxic wastewater crisis in Chesterfield
• Shoosmith landfill owners facing investigations by Attorney General
• Chesterfield County: Denied Enforcement Authority Over Landfills
• Shoosmith DEQ Inspection - February 9, 2026 Notice of Violation