Waste deposit landfill

Schwarzbauer J., Heim S., Brinker S., and Littke R. (2002) Occurrence and alteration of organic contaminants in seepage and leakage water from a waste deposit landfill. Water Res. 36, 2275-2287. 

Chapter 2 contains two studies related to groundwater contamination as a result of two different anthropogenic activities. The first study (chapter 2.1) focuses on emissions derived from a leaking waste deposit landfill. The chemical characterisation as well as the identification of specific contaminants are main objectives. Further on, using a set of specific waste deposit derived marker compounds the spatial distribution as well as a time trend was characterised in order to assess the risk of the waste deposit derived effluents. 

Occurrence and alteration of organic contaminants in seepage and leakage water from a waste deposit landfill ... 

This study presents detailed information about the organic constituents in groundwater-contaminating seepage water of a waste deposit landfill. Based on detailed gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analyses a comprehensive view on the composition of organic contaminants will be given. 

In 1998 two seepage wastewater samples were taken from a waste deposit landfill in Germany (see Tab. 1 and Fig. 1). Sampling was performed at two different haulings directly at the top of the landfill. In addition a water sample of leakage water was taken in the underlying mining system (see Tab. 1). All water samples had a pH-value of 7.9. 

Fig 1 Sampling locations of seepage water (1,2) and leakage water (3) of a waste deposit landfill, Germany... 

Tab. 3 Organic compounds identified in seepage and leakage water of a German waste deposit landfill.

Fig. 3 Postulated degradation pathway of phthalates in waste deposit landfills. = not identified in the examined seepage water samples.

Several xenobiotics identified in both the seepage water and the leakage water on the same concentration level were not only persistent but also specific for the waste deposit-derived emission. Hence these stable source indicators (e.g. DEET, NBBS and propyphenazone) appear to be appropriate tracers for the subsequent route of the contamination derived from the waste deposit landfill. 

Monitoring of groundwater contaminations caused by a leaking waste deposit landfill using organic tracer compounds ... 

The area of investigation comprised a groundwater system, which was presumably contaminated by emissions of a waste deposit landfill as the result of a leak discovered in the bottom sealing. Additionally, it was found that waste water was seeping down into the drainage water of an old lead/zinc mine situated below the deposit. Since 1999 technical measures were performed in order to diminish the resulting emissions. 

The origin of the marker compounds exclusively from the waste deposit landfill was confirmed by the analysis of the reference sample RS which revealed no contamination by the substances in question. 

Tab. 2 Concentration (ng/L)of enviromental stable and instable marker compounds at the gallery outlet representing the long time effects of the discharge from a waste deposit landfill leakage.

Groundwater and drainage effluent samples were analysed by means of an organic marker compound approach in order to monitor a waste deposit landfill derived contamination. Considering the quantitative data presented the following two main results can be summarized ... 

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