Abstract
Leachate, the hazardous liquid that percolated through the refuse layers of a sanitary landfill, if it leaks through the landfill lining system, can become a serious source of groundwater pollution. In the past, leaks have been detected in many landfills lined with flexible membrane liners (FML) whose failure may be attributed to flaws such as imperfect seaming, rips, and tears of the membrane, or from chemical attack that dissolves the membrane. Recent studies have shown that composite lining systems which include either a clayey subbase or a layer of geotextile in addition to the FML, can substantially reduce the leakage of leachate. Therefore in this study, four different lining systems are proposed and evaluated to determine their effectiveness in controlling leachate flow under various degree of flaws (referred to as leakage fraction LF) in the FML. The Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) computer model of the Environmental Protection Agency of USA, currently the most widely accepted model far predicting the performance of leachate collection systems in that country, is used to evaluate the following liningsystems: (1) a single FML or liner, (2) a single FML with a clayey composite, (3) a single FML with a geotextile called Claymax, and (4) a double FML. Based on the climatic conditions and the present lining construction cost of Alaska, the study shows that a single FML or liner is the most economical but it is also the least effective in controlling leachate flow. Design (3), a single FML with a geotextile, costs about 50 percent more but it reduces the leakage of leachate by several orders. Design (2) is also effective but the cost incurred in constructing a 3 feet thick clayey subbase is prohibitive and thus to effectively and economically minimize the hazards of potential groundwater contamination by leachate, Design (3) is recommended as the composite lining system for future landfill sites.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Brown, K.W., Thomas, T.C., Lytton, R.L., Jaywickrama, P., and Bahrt, S.C.: 1987, Quantification of Leak Rates Through Holes in Landfill Liners, Hazardous Was te Engineering Research Laboratory, D.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH.
Gan, T.Y., and Friesen G.: 1989, ‘An Analysis of Landfill Lining Systems for Anchorage Regional Landfill (ARL), Phase 2’, Technical Memorandum, Harper-Owes, Seattle, WA.
Kreig, R.A. and Associates, Inc.: 1986, Geotechnical Investigation-Anehorage Regional Landfill, Anchorage, Alaska.
Peyton, R.L. and Schroeder, P.R.: 1988, ‘Evaluation of Landfill Liner Designs’, Author’s Draft, D.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS.
Schroeder, P.R., Peyton, R.L., McEnroe, B.M., and Sjostrom, J.W.: 1988, ‘The Hydrologie Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) Model’, Vols. III and IV. User’s Guide for Version 2, D.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS.
Schroeder, P.R. and Peyton, R.L.: 1988, ‘Vertification of the Lateral Drainage Component of the HELP Model Dsing Physical Models’, D.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Gan, T.Y., Friesen, G. (1991). The Effectiveness of Composite Lining Systems in Controlling the Leakage of Leachate from Sanitary Landfills to Groundwater. In: Lee, H.K. (eds) Fourth Symposium on our Environment. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2664-9_20
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2664-9_20
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-5178-1
Online ISBN: 978-94-011-2664-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive