Investigation of Leachate Quantity from a Solid Waste Landfill in a Mediterranean Climate

Abstract

Attempts to design models governing the movement of fluids (leachate and biogas) in the landfill remain incomplete. The empirical models used in predicting real time leachate production, despite their imperfections, are more likely to remain in use for longer period of time. Therefore, it is suitable to do case studies without readily generalizing processes or models. This research has identified key parameters, such as the average composition by category of landfilled waste, the humidity present in the waste, the water retention capacity of the waste (field capacity), the density of the waste, the monitoring of leachate flow out of the discharge. Those parameters are used to design a mathematical model that was employed to check and to monitor the volume of leachate at the site of Ouled Fayet (Algeria) in a Mediterranean zone. The results make it possible to assess the flow of leachate generated by three cells with one at operating state. The model is calibrated with measurements obtained in the field. However, some leachate leaking issues were detected and examined. Finally a model was proposed and validated on the site of Ouled Fayet for Mediterranean zone with different parameters to be measured. The model is currently used on several sites. The results obtained from other operating sites (3) in Algeria are very conclusive.