up and down water lvels in urban well drawdown tests

Understanding Up and Down Water Levels in Urban Well Drawdown Tests: A Study on Leachate Migration

Landfills are a common method of disposing municipal solid waste (MSW) around the world. However, these landfills can pose significant geotechnical and environmental challenges due to high leachate levels. In China alone, there are nearly 2000 operational sanitary landfills with high leachate mounds, which can lead to severe issues if not managed properly.

One of the key concerns in landfill management is the migration of leachate pollutants into underground water and soil. Leachate is a liquid waste product that forms during the decomposition process of MSW. It contains various contaminants such as heavy metals, organic compounds, and other pollutants. When leachate levels are high, it can cause significant pressure at the upper boundary of the bottom liner system, promoting the migration of these pollutants into the surrounding environment.

Recent studies have investigated the impact of vacuum pumping on leachate drawdown in MSW landfills with high leachate levels. Vacuum pumping involves the use of vertical drainage wells accompanied by vacuum pumping (VDW-VP) to reduce leachate levels and mitigate environmental issues. Laboratory model tests were conducted to investigate the performance of VDW-VP on leachate drawdown in MSW landfills.

The results showed that VDW-VP can effectively reduce leachate levels and promote the migration of entrapped gas zones. The study also found that different vacuum pressures (0~−9.5 kPa) can affect the leachate pumping processes, with higher vacuum pressures resulting in a larger cumulative leachate pumping volume.

The findings of this study highlight the importance of understanding up and down water levels in urban well drawdown tests to effectively manage leachate migration in MSW landfills. By applying VDW-VP technology, landfill operators can reduce the environmental impact of their facilities and mitigate geotechnical challenges associated with high leachate levels.

In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential benefits of VDW-VP technology in managing leachate drawdown in MSW landfills with high leachate levels. Further research is needed to fully understand the effects of vacuum pumping on leachate migration and to develop more effective strategies for reducing environmental impacts associated with MSW disposal.

Up and down water lvels in urban well drawdown tests