Leachate management

Leachate is an important factor in landfill management:

It is a potential source of landfill liability through leaching to the subsoil and discharge to surface water
It is an important tool in conceiving the flushing bioreactor for organic waste

Leachate management implies leachate quantification, extraction, characterisation and treatment

A/ Bespoke software allows estimating the production of leachate in relation to landfill design and specific weather conditions

The software output is leachate production in view of specific rainfall.

B/ Based on leachate quantities, leachate evacuation systems can be designed, either through horizontal drains, vertical shafts or a combination of both

Horizontal drain design is based on computer calculations taking into account:

Slope of the confinement layer
Thickness and porosity of the drainage material
Diameter of the drainage pipe
Leachate level in the drainage pipe

C/ Pollux Consulting has extensive experience in leachate characterisation and risk assessment concerning discharge in surface waters..Discharge risks can be identified at different levels:

Direct toxicity effects through the presence of BOD, COD and ammonium
Indirect ecotoxicity effects characterised by :

Metal chelating activity
Genotoxicity
Methane oxidation toxicity
Nitrifier toxicity

D/ Bespoke design and operation of leachate treatment systems is the final step in active leachate management. This is based on:

Leachate characterisation
Quality of the receiving surface water
Reigning legislation
Overall aspects of good management

Figure shows a iological leachate treatment through a membrane bioreactor including effluent polishing with activated carbon