Precipitation/run-on
Rain falling on open portions of a landfill. Standing water (rainwater) from depressions in landfill cover, and run-on of rainfall from adjacent areas will add to the moister content of solid waste in a landfill. Hence, good operation and design needs to minimize these sources of water. To minimize water from precipitation/run-on from entering a landfill, the following should be done
- Maintain as small a working face as possible
- Continuously place and grade daily cover
- maintain daily, intermediate, and final cover to avoid depressors
- design and maintain a surface water control system to minimize run-on and maximize run-off
Recognition and control of Leachate Migration
Monitoring
Groundwater monitoring wells are the principal means of determination of the formation and downward movement of leachate to groundwater resulting in the creation of leachate migration into an aquifer. Surface water contamination is not the major concern and visual monitoring of finished slopes will indicate any horizontal migration of leachate.
In liner landfills the presence of leachate in a saturated zone below or beyond a landfill is a clear indication of liner failure.