SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1981
STP28837S

A Comparison of Groundwater Quality at Selected Landfills to Leaching Test Results

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This paper compares the results of groundwater investigations of five industrial waste sites with leaching test data from the wastes produced by these manufacturing facilities. Since leaching test data are used by some regulatory agencies to classify wastes and predict their actual environmental impact, this study was initiated to examine the correlation between leaching test and groundwater quality data. The sites examined represent three different industries, and are located in different parts of the United States. The quality of groundwater directly in contact with the waste, or immediately downgradient, is compared with leaching test results.

Except for barium, the concentrations of metals in groundwater are less than those released by the leaching tests, although apparently anomalously high concentrations of iron and manganese are found in groundwater immediately downgradient of several waste facilities. These high concentrations may be due to release of iron and manganese by the soils. Generally, concentrations of inorganic nonmetallic parameters released by leaching tests from these wastes are less than concentrations in groundwater. Although laboratory leaching tests are important in estimating leaching potential of wastes, these results indicate leaching tests cannot be used alone to predict the actual environmental impact of waste disposal.

Author Information

Rinaldo-Lee, MB
Residuals Management Technology, Inc., Madison, Wis.
Kunes, TP
Residuals Management Technology, Inc., Madison, Wis.
Nichols, DG
Residuals Management Technology, Inc., Madison, Wis.
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Details
Developed by Committee: D34
Pages: 201–214
DOI: 10.1520/STP28837S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4821-5
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0795-3