Hydraulic Characteristics of Municipal Refuse

Abstract

A review is made of the hydraulic conductivity and other hydraulic parameters of municipal waste. The hydraulic conductivity can be assessed indirectly from measured field parameters and water balance. A test well penetrating about 100 ft of refuse was installed and pumped for about one day at 20 gpm and 2‐1/2 days at 12 gpm. Drawdowns were measured at three observation wells and the pumped well. Difficulties were encountered during drilling and subsequent monitoring of leachate levels. The hydrogeologic parameters were computed using conventional hydrogeologic analysis. The results of a pumping test of leachate from a municipal landfill are presented. Based on the results of the pumping test, it is concluded that hydraulic conductivity of municipal refuse is about 10-3cm/s. It is also concluded that pumping of leachate from a municipal landfill is feasible for control of leachate release to ground water.