Suitability of Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) model of the US Environmental Protection Agency for the simulation of the water balance of landfill cover systems

 Cover systems are widely used to safeguard landfills and contaminated sites. The evaluation of the water balance is crucial for the design of landfill covers. The Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) model of the US Environmental Protection Agency was developed for this purpose. This paper discusses some limitations of version 2 of this model and some operational difficulties for the use of this model in Germany, which has been developed for the United States. The model results are tested against field data of the water balance, measured on test fields on the Georgswerder landfill in Hamburg. Theoretically, HELP considers gravitational forces as driving forces of water flow only. Therefore capillary barriers cannot be simulated. Furthermore, the formation of and the flow through macropores are not considered, a main critical process that the diminishes the effectiveness of compacted soil liners. In the output comparison, the matching of measured and simulated data is quite good for lateral drainage, but failed for surface runoff and liner leakage through compacted soil liners. A further validation study is planned for HELP version 3 using a broader range of test field data. Received: 10 January 1995 · Accepted: 14 November 1995     

Comparing approaches for modeling spatially distributed direct recharge in a semi-arid region (Okanagan Basin, Canada)

Spatially distributed recharge is compared at two different scales using three different modeling approaches within the semi-arid Okanagan Basin, British Columbia, Canada. Regional recharge was modeled by mapping results for one-dimensional soil columns from the water-balance code HELP (Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance, V3.80D). The regional model was then compared to two, independently derived, local-scale models to ensure local trends were captured in the regional model, and to compare modeling methods. Average annual recharge, predicted by the regional model, varied from no recharge to 186 mm/yr. For the north Okanagan (Vernon area), regional estimates were compared to Richards’ equation-based MIKE-SHE (V2007) estimates, which showed a significant difference in average annual recharge: 7 mm/yr (MIKE-SHE) and 109 mm/yr (HELP). In the south Okanagan (Oliver area), regional estimates were compared to high-resolution, local HELP estimates. Similar values of average annual recharge were obtained: 34 mm/yr (local) and 42 mm/yr (regional). A comparison with measured actual evapotranspiration data in the north Okanagan, showed HELP over-predicted recharge compared to MIKE-SHE by under-predicting evapotranspiration during summer months. Thus, the use of HELP in semi-arid areas may be limited if accurate estimates of recharge are needed. However, results may give satisfactory groundwater model calibrations results because of high uncertainty in hydraulic properties.     

非卫生垃圾填埋场渗滤液污染防治对策研究

针对非卫生垃圾填埋场环境污染问题,以某垃圾填埋场为例,通过 WHI UnSat Suite软件 HELP模块计算不同填埋条件下渗滤液渗漏量。利用GMS模拟了该垃圾场中心抽水条件下污染物迁移变化规律。结果表明,简单地表防渗条件下,渗滤液渗漏量为现状条件下的50%,增铺 HDPE土工膜后,渗漏量可减少99%。卫生填埋渗滤液仅为现状条件下的3.6＆#215;10-3倍。当抽水量为2000 m3/d时,Cl-浓度呈明显下降趋势,由84 mg/L降至80.1 mg/L。     

Monitoring system for environmental risk management of a landfill disposal site

A landfill disposal site can be described as “an artificial vessel” and must satisfy the following three demands (1) storage and disposal of waste; (2) protection of the environment; and (3) benefit for nearby residents by taking advantage of consequential effects. The concept of risk was effectively considered to emphasize the importance of monitoring systems in landfill disposal sites, especially to protect the environment. Because a part of the R&D was involved in creating a monitoring system for a landfill disposal site, the present development and future potential of a system which can detect the leakage of watershield sheets, was discussed.     

Performance-based landfill design: development of a design component selection matrix using GIS and system simulation models

Designing environmentally safe and economically feasible landfills can be a challenging task due to complex interactions that need to be taken into account between landfill size, waste and site characteristics. The main focus of this study is, by interfacing the geographic information systems (GIS) with system simulation models (SSM), to develop a methodology and a landfill design component selection matrix that can enable the determination of landfill design components providing the desired performance with minimal design details. In this paper, the conceptual framework and applications of the developed methodology demonstrating the selection of landfill design components that are suitable for the existing site conditions are presented. The conceptual model defines design variables, performance criteria and design components of a landfill. GIS and SSM are used to handle the site-specific data and to evaluate the landfill performance, respectively. Results indicate that the landfills having the same design characteristics show different performance under different site conditions; therefore, a landfill design that is technically and economically feasible should be selected on the basis of performance.     

Environmental impact assessment using rapid impact assessment matrix (RIAM) for Russeifa landfill, Jordan

An environmental impact assessment (EIA) study for the solid waste landfill was prepared for the Russeifa area, northeast Jordan. As landfill was not subjected to sophisticated EIA, serious environmental problems are still occurring, such as groundwater contamination and air pollution. Three alternatives were proposed to rehabilitate the landfill: upgrading the existing landfill, construction of a biogas plant and its relocation. The EIA for the three options was carried out using the rapid impact assessment matrix (RIAM), it applies a consistent and recordable assessment of the importance of the different components. The scoping components included in the RIAM were: physical/chemical, biological/ecological, social/cultural and economic/operational components. The RIAM analysis showed that the least negative impacts would be to relocate to a better-managed sanitary landfill. The most serious negative impacts were the contamination of groundwater, air pollution and public health. These impacts can be mitigated through a comprehensive environmental management plan for the Russeifa landfill to address the deterioration of environmental components in the vicinity of landfill.     

Composite landfill liner design with Ankara clay, Turkey

This study presents an overview of the geotechnical properties of the clayey soils, referred to as Ankara clay, at two sites of the Ankara region in an attempt to design a landfill profile composed of a high density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane/clay composite liner through the Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) model and the Water Balance Method. The geotechnical properties of the landfill layers along with the water balance factors (i.e., evapotranspiration, precipitation, temperature, etc.) were assessed to determine the height of the water-saturated zone in the refuse above the composite liner for landfill design. The cumulative expected leakage rates through the composite liner constructed with compacted Ankara clay were related quantitatively to the cumulative average leachate head. The results of this investigation show that the leakage rates through the composite liner are within tolerable limits.     

Simulation of geomembrane response to settlement in landfills by using the material point method

Because of the multiple layers of dissimilar materials and large deformations involved in the subsidence of a landfill system, large-scale computer simulation of the geomechanical response to subsidence with the use of conventional numerical methods are problematic. The Material Point (MPM), which was recently developed for dynamic problems such as penetration and perforation, is a newly emerging numerical method. The MPM is modified in this paper to simulate the geomechanical response of a landfill cover system that includes a geomembrane under quasi-static loading conditions. Sample problems, for which an analytical solution is available with certain assumptions, are considered to demonstrate the proposed solution procedure. Future work is discussed based on current research results. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Using operational data to estimate the reliable yields of water-supply wells

The reliable yield of a water-supply well depends on many different factors, including the properties of the well and the aquifer; the capacities of the pumps, raw-water mains, and treatment works; the interference effects from other wells; and the constraints imposed by abstraction licences, water quality, and environmental issues. A relatively simple methodology for estimating reliable yields has been developed that takes into account all of these factors. The methodology is based mainly on an analysis of water-level and source-output data, where such data are available. Good operational data are especially important when dealing with wells in shallow, unconfined, fissure-flow aquifers, where actual well performance may vary considerably from that predicted using a more analytical approach. Key issues in the yield-assessment process are the identification of a deepest advisable pumping water level, and the collection of the appropriate well, aquifer, and operational data. Although developed for water-supply operators in the United Kingdom, this approach to estimating the reliable yields of water-supply wells using operational data should be applicable to a wide range of hydrogeological conditions elsewhere. Received, September 1998/Revised, May 1999, September 1999/Accepted, October 1999     

黏土固化注浆帷幕控制重金属污染物运移的数值模拟

针对南昌市麦园垃圾卫生填埋场渗滤液防渗的实际情况,分析了重金属污染物在黏土固化注浆帷幕中的迁移转化特征,建立了地下水渗流模型和重金属污染物运移的耦合动力学模型。利用该模型对黏土固化注浆帷幕控制重金属污染物的迁移行为进行了模拟研究。数值模拟结果表明,在填埋场设计使用年限内黏土固化注浆帷幕对重金属污染物的阻滞率可以达到94.5 %以上,重金属污染物在防渗系统中的浓度范围沿地下水水流方向逐渐扩展,同一位置的浓度值随时间的延续呈逐渐增大的趋势,但距离污染源越远,污染物的浓度越低。结合现场检测情况,证明了黏土固化注浆帷幕对重金属污染物具有较强的污染控制能力。     

Long-term behaviour and mineralogical reactions in hazardous waste landfills: a comparison of observation and geochemical modelling

 Drill cores from a Bavarian hazardous waste landfill were investigated for their mineralogical composition. Because of the formation of many new minerals, geochemical equilibrium calculations were performed to find the most stable state of the waste body. A comparison of mineralogical observations and geochemical modelling was undertaken. The remaining solubilities of the newly formed secondary mineral assemblages were calculated. Newly formed minerals were shown using electron microscopy. Received: 26 November 1999 · Accepted: 15 May 2000     

Analyses on a high leachate mound in a landfill of municipal solid waste in China

The leachate levels in the landfills in southern China are generally high. Field monitoring was carried out in the Suzhou landfill to investigate the leachate mound. The saturated hydraulic conductivity and soil–water characteristic curve (SWCC) of municipal solid waste were measured using samples taken from different depths of the landfill. Field monitoring reveals that a perched leachate mound and a substantial main leachate mound existed in the landfill. The saturated hydraulic conductivities of wastes in shallow, middle and deep depth were measured to be 4.81 × 10^?2, 3.50 × 10^?3 and 3.56 × 10^?4 cm/s, respectively. The results of SWCC tests show that the SWCC curve was steep when matric suction was low, and the shallower the waste the steeper would be the curve. In addition to the field and laboratory tests, an unsaturated–saturated seepage analysis was conducted to simulate the development of the high leachate mound and to calculate the annual leachate production. The simulated volumetric water content in the unsaturated zone was about 40 %, which agreed well with the test result. The calculated leachate mound was consistent with the field measurement. The calculated annual and daily leachate productions were all more reasonable than the results of the HELP model.     

The search for landfill sites – requirements and implementation in Lower Saxony, Germany

 In Germany, landfilling and incineration are the main techniques for the disposal of waste. However, due to humid climatic conditions, leakage of contaminated water from landfills into the subsurface poses a considerable threat to the environment. Therefore, the German states require high safety standards for the construction of a landfill. Emphasis is put on the presence of natural geological barrier rocks. Clay and silts, claystones and siltstones are best suited to meet the requirements defined in legal waste regulations. With regard to retardation capacity, thickness is considered of higher importance than hydraulic permeability. Suitable areas have to be reduced by legally excluded areas. A site search program in Lower Saxony revealed that only 1% of the total state area falls into the best suitability category. Geoscientific investigations on the remaining suitable areas have to become more detailed in the search progress. Geographical information systems (GIS) are the most adequate tools to work on all involved data and to present and outline the results. GIS make the results transparent and understandable to the public. These investigations are a necessary part of the environmental impact assessment which is obligatory for a landfill site's construction. Criteria catalogues take all important aspects of the search process into consideration and help to find the most suitable site. Received: 17 March 1997 · Accepted: 6 June 1997     

Direct current (DC) resistivity measurements in long-term groundwater monitoring programmes

. Effective leak detection systems are most often needed to enable early warnings of groundwater contamination from landfill areas. In order to monitor the groundwater chemical changes over time direct current (DC) resistivity measurements have been used, since variation in groundwater ion concentration give changes of the electrical potential field. A simple, low-cost system for long-term monitoring has been developed and used for 4 years at an existing operational landfill in central Sweden. The paper describes the construction and operation of the geoelectrical monitoring system based on a fixed electrode Wenner array, situated in a glaciated terrain. The simplicity of the system enables non-experts in geophysics to run the system and evaluate the results. The lateral resistivity variations (up to 10,000% from the mean lateral value) clearly reflect strongly different natural geological conditions, whereas the variations over time (15% from the mean value at each specific point) reflect mainly the seasonal soil humidity and groundwater level variations. Leachates from the landfill have a low resistivity (about 1 ohmm) and the moderate seasonal variations in electrical resistivity favour the possibilities for identification of leakage from the landfill. Evaluation of resistivity data comprises modified double mass calculations versus data from reference measurement sites, which enables detection of contamination although it influences the resistivity less than the natural seasonal variations.     

填埋场衬垫系统界面本构模型研究

典型垃圾填埋场衬垫系统由土/土工膜、土工膜/土工织物等多个界面组成,这些界面抗剪强度低,成为潜在的滑裂面,容易使填埋场发生沿界面的失稳破坏。本文根据大量土/土工膜界面直剪试验的研究,针对该界面的变形机理和应变软化特性,在前人研究的基础上确定了接触面的厚度,定义了接触面的切向应变和法向应变,将界面的变形分为3个阶段:弹性阶段,塑性阶段和残余阶段。同时提出了适合于土与土工膜界面的弹塑性本构模型。该本构模型参数较少,物理意义明确,运用简单方便。最后,结合Filz接触面直剪试验和钱学德单剪试验的结果,将通过该模型得到的拟合结果与之进行了对比验证分析。研究结果表明:本文提出的土与土工膜界面弹塑性本构模型是合理可行的,且建模方便,适用于工程实践。     

Can stable isotopes be used to monitor landfill leachate impact on surface waters?

Bacterially mediated methanogenesis in municipal solid waste landfills has been shown to cause an enrichment of carbon stable isotope ratios of dissolved inorganic carbon and hydrogen stable isotope ratios of water in landfill leachate. In the present study, we investigate the universality of this enrichment in leachate obtained from four diverse landfill sites in New Zealand. At each site, surface water samples upstream and downstream of landfills were analysed to examine the applicability of stable isotope ratios as a tool for monitoring leachate contamination in landfill-associated streams. The design of leachate collection systems, operational history, and landfill location appeared to strongly influence leachate isotopic values and the effectiveness of isotope ratios as an environmental monitoring tool for surface water.     

A model for gas pressure in layered landfills with horizontal gas collection systems

The recovery and emission of landfill gas (LFG) is an important topic in landfill management. To produce an effective engineering design for an LFG collection system, designers must understand the migration of gas from the waste body to horizontal extraction wells. This paper develops a two-dimensional analytical solution to enable the study of the gas pressure distribution, well pressure and recovery efficiency in layered landfills with horizontal wells. A horizontal layered structure is used to accommodate the non-homogeneity of various municipal solid waste (MSW) aspects with respect to depth, including gas generation, permeability and temperature. The governing equations, subject to boundary and continuity conditions, are solved by using separation of variables and double finite integral transforms. The solution was verified against another analytical solution and a numerical simulation. Subsequently, a sensitivity analysis of single-well model parameters is performed to optimize a double-well system. The results show that a landfill with horizontal collection systems cannot be assumed to be one dimensional with increasing well spacing. Additionally, both the operational vacuum and maximum gas pressure can be reduced through the design of a double- or multiple-well system. Therefore, the proposed solution can be used for the verification of more complex models and the preliminary design of a horizontal well system.     

填埋场封场覆盖系统稳定性统一分析模型构建及应用研究

为探讨不同界面形式下有限长与无限长填埋场边坡封顶覆盖系统稳定特性,通过模型试验确定了不同边坡长度下界面分别为土工膜和三维网时封场覆盖系统的破坏模式与失稳坡度。基于试验结果建立了覆盖系统的许可破坏模式及其速度场,利用极限分析上限法建立了考虑界面强弱特性以及坡长有限与无限形式的覆盖系统稳定性统一分析模型,并利用模型试验结果对该理论进行验证。运用文中提出的理论模型对新型环保的垃圾填埋场封场覆盖生态污泥腾发覆盖技术（EST）中防护基材稳定性进行定量分析。研究结果表明：覆盖层失稳时,滑移面分为上、下两段,上段为平行于坡面的直线,下段为位于覆盖层内部近似为与坡面成一定夹角的直线;减小边坡长度能使覆盖系统稳定特性提高,但减小覆盖层厚度对覆盖系统稳定的增减影响与界面强弱形式有关;覆盖系统稳定特性主要由界面抗剪强度控制,增加基材强度并不能大幅度提升覆盖系统稳定特性,且增加界面黏聚力对覆盖系统稳定贡献明显优于增加界面摩擦系数。     

Analysis of flow behavior in a landfill with cover soil of low hydraulic conductivity

 This paper presents the results of field tests of hydrologic parameters in a landfill and the results of numerical simulation to find the efficiency of the pumping method to reduce leachate levels in the landfill. The field hydraulic conductivity and storativity of waste and buried cover soils in the landfill are measured by pumping and slug tests. The hydrologic condition inside the landfill is first calibrated using the drawdown-time curve obtained from the pumping test, and the flow behavior of leachate during pumping in the landfill, when various layers of waste and buried cover soil exist, is analyzed through three-dimensional numerical simulation of flow. The results of the field investigation show that the buried cover soil of low hydraulic conductivity forms an impermeable layer preventing the downward flow of leachate and upward flow of landfill gas. The hydraulic conductivities of the pumping test and slug tests were quite close on the same order of magnitude. It was also possible to match the drawdown-time data of the field tests with those of the model using input data close to the hydrologic property obtained from the field tests. The numerical flow analysis showed that pumping was possible up to 120 tons/day for a single well without a drain, while the pumping rate could be increased to 300 tons/day for the same well with the drain. From the vertical section of the flow vector with a horizontal drain, the barrier role of buried cover soil is identified, which was proposed by examining the water contents of the disposed cover soil and waste in the field. Received: 15 May 1998 · Accepted: 4 January 1999     

Seismic stability analyses for landfill cover systems under different seepage buildup conditions

Drainage of landfill cover systems is often inadequate and buildup of seepage forces can occur over time. However, in most design analyses the seepage buildup is neglected and assumed to have only a minor impact on the seismic performance of landfill cover systems. Actually, simply ignoring the seepage buildup will lead to serious overestimation of the factor of safety. A new two-wedge method was developed to analyze the seismic stability of landfill cover systems under different seepage buildup conditions. The solutions of the factor of safety and the yield acceleration coefficient can be obtained, and the permanent displacement of landfill cover systems can also be calculated using the Newmark method. Based on the developed seismic analysis method, the effects of a parametric variation on the seismic stability and permanent displacement of landfill cover systems are presented.