The Manawatu Standard, New Zealand has reported problems with leachate which are being remedied by the authorities concerned. There is no discussion of how the problem arose. Lined landfills will always tend to leak and leachate will very often be formed when desk-based calculation might show otherwise.
That's why regular leachate level monitoring is usually a requirement for all closed landfills, even when leachate is being removed as it apparently was in this case.
The purpose of monitoring is to check that leachate is not building up in some parts of the landfill. Clearly, when leachate levels rise there is much more risk of a leak out of the landfill liner containment system, occurring.
We have included much of the original article below, but we would appreciate it if you would also please visit the original site for the full story:
Steps have been taken to stem the flow of toxic leachate from the Awapuni landfill in Palmerston North.
In May it was revealed that leachate from the landfill had been seeping into the Mangaone Stream and on into the Manawatu River.
Leachate from the lined landfill is collected and taken to the city's wastewater treatment plant.
An independent groundwater scientist and a landfill specialist were contracted to compile a report containing information about what was in the landfill, when material was dumped there, the landfill design and the leachate collection, treatment and discharge system. The original unlined landfill started operating in 1951 and was operational until 1995 when it was replaced by a lined extension, which was used until 2007.
Science and water quality manager Jon Royguard said that more surface water sampling had been completed at 15 sites in the vicinity of the landfill during two low-flow periods.
A further set of samples of the leachate and some other key locations has also been completed in late May. The results of this additional work will be written up in a separate follow-up document that is likely to be available in July.
Testing is continuing around the Higgins site and Mangaone Stream.
Dr Royguard said Palmerston North City Council put in place work to remedy the leaking.
"We have advised them of some remedial action and they have got to it very quickly."
The final report will be made public in August.
- © Fairfax NZ News
http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/7104066/Action-on-leaking-landfill
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