Managing and Treating Landfill Leachate

Leachate Management
Options
Jim Johnston, PE
SCS Engineers

Leachate is
Industrial
Wastewater
• Regulated under NPDES
• A Categorical Point Source When
Discharged Directly
• IW Pretreatment (to POTW)-No NPS
• Can be land applied with certain restrictions
• Can be recirculated within certain limitations
2

Currently Most
Common
Means of
Disposal:
3
• Pump & Haul
• Private Carrier
• Pretreatment by
POTW
• Direct VPDES
Discharges are Being
Discouraged

Business Cents
What’s Up With Leachate?
• Many Have Not Been Directed to Treat/Pretreat
• Pump & Haul is Getting Expensive
• DPWs, WWTPs Pressed for Nutrient Removal
• POTW Capacity Stretched by Development
• Corrosion of Infrastructure
• May Have Had Upsets
5

Recirculation to Inactive Cells
•Recirculation on Subtitle D Liner is OK
•May require Minor Amendment
•Recirculation on Alternative Liner Limited
•RDD Rule only codified by some states
6

RD&D Flexibilities
Leachate recirculation and liquid
additions over alternative liners
Alternative final covers for landfills
(especially in arid regions)
7
Bioreactor provisions:
Add liquid wastes
Add water
Alternative daily cover
Reduced run-on controls
More allowances for leachate
recirculation

RDD Tradeoffs
Alternate bottom liners
More flexibility on leachate collection
More flexibility on daily covers
BUT: More Monitoring intended to confirm
alternatives are “at least as protective of
human health and environment”
8

Common Problems - Leachate
Any leak or discharge of leachate is not authorized under the SWGP

Common Problems - Leachate

TYPICAL BIOREACTOR CROSS-SECTION

Basic Benefits
• Accelerates waste decomposition by…..
•Increasing moisture content of waste
• Leachate recirculation/liquids injection
• Spray on at working face, vertical injection, horizontal
•Injection air (aerobic)
•pH or other chemical controls
•Adding organics (yard trimmings, compost, etc.)
•Waste shredding (increased surface area)
• Accelerates LFG emissions (rate)
• Potentially shortens post-closure period
• Increases “effective” density (air space)

Bioreactor Types
• Basic Bioreactor Types
• Anaerobic:
• Aerobic:
• Hybrid:
degradation w/o oxygen
degradation w/oxygen
aerobic (short) + anaerobic
• Facultative: anaerobic w/chemical control
(See Outer Loop Landfill Award Application)
• More to come…..

PRETREATMENT STANDARDS FOR DISCHARGERS
Pollutant
Arsenic (T)
Cadmium (T)
Chromium (T)
Copper (T)
Lead (T)
Mercury (T)
Nickel (T)
Silver (T)
Zinc (T)
Cyanide (T)
Total Toxic Organics (TTO)
Daily Maximum
(mdl)
t.29
0.1I
t.07
t.92
0.3s
0.002
3.98
0.43
2.55
1.20
2.t3
BODs
coD
Suspended Solids
Phosphorus (T)
Animal/Vegetable Oil and Grease
Petroleum Based Oil and Grease
Lower Explosive Limit
pH
Temperature
Closed Cup Flashpoint
See Footnote I
See Footnote I
See Footnote I
See Footnote I
See Footnote 2
100
t0%
Not less than 6.0 and not preater than 10.0
Not greater than l40o p (O-Oo C)
Not less than l40o F (600 C)
T = Total
All limits apply at end of pipe.
Footnote l: Wastewater discharge concentrations greater than 250 mg/l for BOD and
TSS and concentrations greater than 8 mg/l for Phosphorus are subject ¡o a surcharge, as
per County Code Section 5-509.
Footnote 2: No numerical discharge standard exists; however, the following nanative
standard applies:
Discharge prohibition of solids or viscous substances in quantities capable of
obstructing the fl_ow in sanitary sewers or otherwise interfering with th. prop.,
operation of the County system, discharge prohibition of free or emulsified
materials that are not readily biodegradable. Discharge prohibition of grease or
oil wastes that could solidify at normal wastewater temperatures and cõnfibute to
sewer line clogging, skimming and/or grease handling equipment overload, or
treatment process interference.
il

Lower Berkeley WWTF - Headworks Analysis
EPA WQC Allowable POTW Allowable Inhibitory POTW Allowable MinimumAllowable Typical Industrial Allocations
Pollutant In Stream Discharge Removal @ POTW Threshold Removal at POTW A,or B @ POTW Domestic Loading Capacity Available to Non-domestic US Water Navy Navy BCW&SA ALCOA Available Remaining Pollutant
(mg/l) (mg/l) % (mg/l) (mg/l) Primary (mg/L) (mg/l) (#/day) (mg/l) (#/day) (mg/l) (#/day) % Recovery 1 Line 2 Line
A % B Lesser (#/day) (#/day) (#/day) (#/day) (#/day) (#/day) %
Antimony Avg 0.64000 75.56 70 251.88 x x x 251.88 47264.4 0.0050 0.9039 6139.86 47263.5 100.00 47263.5441 100.00 Antimony Avg
Arsenic Avg 0.03600 4.25 45 7.73 0.1 x 0.1 0.10 18.8 0.0070 1.2655 2.2733 17.5 93.26 1.5200 15.9795 85.16 Arsenic Avg
Arsenic Max 0.06900 8.15 45 14.81 0.1 x 0.1 0.10 18.8 0.0070 1.2655 2.2733 17.5 93.26 2.2800 15.2195 81.11 Arsenic Max
Cadmium Avg 0.00930 1.10 67 3.33 1 15 1.176471 1.18 220.8 0.0080 1.4463 28.49 219.3 99.34 4.6700 17.3800 6.6700 190.5984 86.34 Cadmium Avg
Cadmium Max 0.04300 5.08 67 15.38 1 15 1.176471 1.18 220.8 0.0080 1.4463 28.49 219.3 99.34 7.0000 26.0700 10.0000 176.2484 79.84 Cadmium Max
Chromium Avg 0.05000 5.90 82 32.80 1 27 1.369863 1.37 257.1 0.0340 6.1467 32.59 250.9 97.61 0.028 4.340 246.5401 95.91 Chromium Avg
Chromium Max 1.10000 129.87 82 721.52 1 27 1.369863 1.37 257.1 0.0340 6.1467 32.59 250.9 97.61 0.065 6.510 244.3331 95.05 Chromium Max
Copper Avg 0.00370 0.44 86 3.12 1 22 1.282051 1.28 240.6 0.1400 25.3101 27.96 215.3 89.48 0.0210 2.8000 10.4200 4.0000 198.0259 82.31 Copper Avg
Copper Max 0.00580 0.68 86 4.89 1 22 1.282051 1.28 240.6 0.1400 25.3101 27.96 215.3 89.48 0.0430 4.2000 15.6400 6.0000 189.3839 78.72 Copper Max
Cyanide Avg 0.00100 0.12 69 0.38 0.1 27 0.136986 0.14 25.7 0.0820 14.8245 1.4135 10.9 42.33 10.8810 42.33 Cyanide Avg
Cyanide Max 0.00100 0.12 69 0.38 0.1 27 0.136986 0.14 25.7 0.0820 14.8245 1.4135 10.9 42.33 10.8810 42.33 Cyanide Max
Lead Avg 0.00850 1.00 61 2.57 1 57 2.325581 2.33 436.4 0.0580 10.4856 55.3286 425.9 97.60 0.0140 0.1900 0.6900 0.2600 424.7558 97.33 Lead Avg
Lead Max 0.22000 25.97 61 66.6060 1 57 2.325581 233 2.33 436.44 0.05800580 10.4856 55.3286 425.9 97.60 0.03000300 0.2800 1.0400 0.4000 424.1598 97.20 Lead Max
Mercury Avg 0.000051 0.0060 60 0.02 0.1 10 0.111111 0.02 2.8 0.0020 0.3616 0.3200 2.5 87.20 2.4632 87.20 Mercury Avg
Mercury Max 0.000051 0.0088 60 0.02 0.1 10 0.111111 0.02 4.1 0.0020 0.3616 0.4888 3.8 91.23 3.7626 91.23 Mercury Max
Nickel Avg 0.00830 0.98 42 1.69 1 14 1.162791 1.16 218.2 0.0470 8.4970 27.24 209.7 96.11 4.3400 3.3400 202.0207 92.59 Nickel Avg
Nickel Max 0.07500 8.86 42 15.27 1 14 1.162791 1.16 218.2 0.0470 8.4970 27.24 209.7 96.11 6.5100 5.0000 198.1907 90.83 Nickel Max
Silver Avg 0.00120 0.14 75 0.57 0.25 20 0.3125 0.31 58.6 0.0190 3.4349 7.17 55.2 94.14 1.1700 4.3400 49.6957 84.75 Silver Avg
Silver Max 0.00120 0.14 75 0.57 0.25 20 0.3125 0.31 58.6 0.0190 3.4349 7.17 55.2 94.14 1.7500 6.5100 46.9457 80.06 Silver Max
Thallium Avg 0.00047 0.0555 70 0.18 x x x 0.18 34.7 0.0005 0.0904 4.50 34.6 99.74 0.8700 33.7494 97.23 Thallium Avg
Thallium Max 0.00047 0.0810 70 0.27 x x x 0.27 50.7 0.0005 0.0904 6.57 50.6 99.82 1.3000 49.2860 97.26 Thallium Max
Zinc Avg 0.08600 10.15 79 48.35 0.3 27 0.410959 0.41 77.1 0.2310 41.76 4.59 35.4 45.85 0.0009 0.9900 3.6900 1.4200 29.2540 37.93 Zinc Avg
Zinc Max 0.09500 11.22 79 53.41 0.3 27 0.410959 0.41 77.1 0.2310 41.76 4.59 35.4 45.85 0.0009 1.4900 5.5400 2.1400 26.1840 33.95 Zinc Max
Phenol x x x x 50 8 54.34783 54.35 10198.4 0.000025 0.00452 1324.84 10198.4 100.00 1303 8895.3650 87.22 Phenol
Molybdenum x x x x x x x 0.00 548.4 0.02 3.6157 70.7712 544.8 99.34 544.7843 99.34 Molybdenum
Selenium Avg 0.07100 8.38 50 16.77 x x x 16.77 1096.9 0.005 0.9039 142.3775 1096.0 99.92 0.560 1095.4361 99.87 Selenium Avg
Selenium Max 0.29000 34.24 50 68.48 x x x 68.48 1096.9 0.005 0.9039 142.3775 1096.0 99.92 0.840 1095.1561 99.84 Selenium Max
Ammonia Avg 20.00 72.5 72.73 480 x 480 72.73 13647.3 30 5423.6 1068.3 8223.7 60.26 8223.6873 60.26 Ammonia Avg
Ammonia Max 30.00 72.5 109.09 480 x 480 109.09 20470.9 30 5423.6 1954.75 15047.3 73.51 15047.3237 73.51 Ammonia Max
Chloride Avg 230.0000 27155.33 0 27155.33 180 x 180 180.0000 33777.0 005 0.05 90 9.0 4386.6969 33768.0 99.9797 33767.9607 99.9797 Chloride Avg
Chloride Max 860.00 101537.33 0 101537.33 180 x 180 180.00 33777.0 0.05 9.0 4386.69 33768.0 99.97 33767.9607 99.97 Chloride Max
CBOD Avg 25 95 500 x x x 500.00 93825.0 300 54235.9 5143 39589.1 42.19 39589.1460 42.19 CBOD Avg
CBOD Max 38 95 750 x x x 750.00 140737.5 300 54235.9 11237 86501.6 61.46 86501.6460 61.46 CBOD Max
TSS Avg 30 95 600 x x x 600.00 112590.0 300 54235.9 7581 58354.1 51.83 58354.1460 51.83 TSS Avg
TSS Max 45 95 900 x x x 900.00 168885.0 300 54235.9 14894 114649.1 67.89 114649.1460 67.89 TSS Max
O & G Avg 100 0 100 x x x 100.00 18765.0 100 18078.62 89.17 686.4 3.66 8.757 42.95 166.800 467.8750 2.49 O & G Avg
O & G Max 150 0 150 x x x 150.00 28147.5 100 18078.62 1308.02 10068.9 35.77 13.135 64.42 250.200 9741.1270 34.61 O & G Max
Input Values:
Method of Calculation:
Allowable Headworks Loading - Sludge
Domestic Design Flow 15.000 mgd In stream concentrations are based upon EPA Water Quality Criteria Formuli.
Allowable
POTW
Industrial Design Flow 3.000 mgd Discharge is based upon a dilution ratio of Total Flow plus 7Q10 to Total Flow.
Concentration Headworks
Pollutant Removal
I/I allowance 4.500 mgd The 7Q10 is that of the Cooper River at the potential POTW discharge location.
(mg/kg) Loading
%
Total Design Flow 22.500 mgd Allowable concentration at POTW is based upon the removal efficiency for that parameter,
(#/day)
7Q10 2634 mgd BOD and TSS loading is a design parameter of the plant. Arsenic 0.45 75.00 914.064
4076 cfs Inhibitory threshold of combined flow @ POTW, rather than @ industrial discharge, is considered. Cadmium 0.67 85.00 695.78006
Assumed Hardness 25 mg/l Typical domestic loading is subtracted from plant capacity to determine capacity that is available Copper 0.86 4300.00 27421.92
Permitted Domestic Flow 21.677 mgd for non-domestic (industrial) allocation. Lead 061 0.61 840.0000 7552.2664926649
Permitted Industrial Flow 0.923 mgd Molybdenum allowable discharge was calculated from typical sludge production of biological processes Mercury 0.60 57.00 521.01648
Remaining Flow 0 mgd used at the plant and allowable concentration in sludge disposable from Table 1 503.13 of 40 CFR Part 503. Molybdenum 0.75 75.00 548.4384
All inhibition values were taken from EPA's Local Limits Development Guidance (x - indicates Nickel 0.42 420.00 5484.384
Sludge Values: research yielded no inhibition values) Selenium 0.50 100.00 1096.8768
Sludge Flow to Disposal 4.8 mgd Typical domestic loading values were taken from EPA's Local Limits Development Guidance, SCDHEC's Zinc 0.79 7500.00 52066.9367
Percent Solids 13.7 % Practical Quantitation Limits (PQLs), Berekeley Counties Sewer Use Ordinance, or Wastewater Engineering
by Metcalf & Eddy, Inc. (only used for O & G).
AHLs for Cadmium Max and Molybdenum are based on Sludge Calculations because of a lower yielded
AHL
% Removal assumed to be zero if research yielded no values.

4
VPDES Permit v. Pretreatment Permit

Improved BOD & COD
Removal
BOD, COD Concentrations
1000.00
900.00
800.00
700.00
Concentration (mg/L)
600.00
500.00
400.00
300.00
200.00
100.00
0.00
6/6/2006 6/29/2006 7/25/2006 11/9/2006 12/15/2006 03/0707 4/4/2007
Sample Dates
BOD5
COD
11

BOD:COD Ratio Behavior
BOD, COD and Ratio
1000.00
16.00
900.00
14.00
800.00
12.00
700.00
Concentration (mg/L)
600.00
500.00
400.00
10.00
8.00
6.00
300.00
200.00
4.00
100.00
2.00
0.00
6/6/2006 6/29/2006 7/25/2006 11/9/2006 12/15/2006 03/0707 4/4/2007
Sample Dates
BOD5 COD BOD5 : COD Ratio
0.00
12

13
THE END