Landfill Liner Failure: an Open Question for Landfill Risk Analysis

Alberto Pivato

.

DOI: 10.4236/jep.2011.23032                

Abstract

The European Union Landfill regulations (1999/31/EC) are based on the premise that technological barrier systems can fully contain all landfill leachate produced during waste degradation, and thus provide complete protection to groundwater. The long-term durability of containment systems are to date unproven as landfill liner systems have only been used for about 30 years. Many recent studies have drawn attention to some of the deficiencies associated with artificial lining systems, particularly synthetic membrane systems. Consequently, failure modes of landfill liners need to be quantified and analysed. A probabilistic approach, which is usually performed for complex technological systems such as nuclear reactors, chemical plants and spacecrafts, can be applied usefully to the evaluation of landfill liner integrity and to clarify the failure issue (reliability) of liners currently applied. This approach can be suitably included into risk analysis to manage the landfill aftercare period.

Keywords

Landfill Liners, System Reliability, Risk Analysis, Landfill Aftercare Period

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	L. J. Rodic-Wiersma and L. H. J. Goossens, “Assessment of Landfill Technology Failure. In Proceedings Sardinia 2001, Eighth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium S. Margherita di Pula, Cagliari, Italy. Edited by T. H. Christensen, R. Cossu and R. Stegmann. Published by CISA,” Environmental Sanitary Engineering, Vol. 1, 2001, pp. 695-704.
[2]	T. H. Saaty, “The Analytic Hierarchy Process,” RWS Publications, ISBN 0-9620317-2-0, 1990.
[3]	A. A. M. Boerboom, E. Foppen and O. Van Leeuwen, “Risk Assessment Methodology for Aftercare of Landfills Based on Probabilistic Approach,” In: T. H. Christensen, R. Cossu and R. Stegmann, Ed., Proceedings Sardinia 2003, Ninth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, S. Margherita di Pula, Cagliari, Italy. Published by CISA, Environmental Sanitary Engineering, 2003.
[4]	E. J. Henley and H. Kumamoto, “Reliability Engineering and Risk Assessment,” By Englewood Cliffs, Prentice-Hall, New Jersey, 07632. ISBN-0-13-772251-6, 1981.
[5]	A. Papoulis, “Probability, Random Variables and Stochastic Processes,” Published by McGraw-Hill, 1993.
[6]	R. K. Herz, “Ageing Process and Rehabilitation Needs of Drinking Water Distribution Networks,” Journal of Water SRT-Acqua, Vol. 47, No. 6, 1996, pp. 275-283.
[7]	D. Cazzuffi, R. Cossu and M. C. Lavagnolo, “Efficiency of Geotextiles and Geocomposites in Landfill Drainage Systems,” In: T. H. Christensen and R. Cossu, Ed., Landfilling of Waste: Barriers, London, 1994.
[8]	H. August, “Leachate Drainage Systems,” Advanced landfill liner systems, published by Thomas Telford Publishing, Thomas Telford Services Ltd., London, 1997, pp. 84-93.
[9]	C. A. J. Appelo and D. Postma, “Geochemistry, Groundwater and Pollution,” 2th Edition, Taylor & Francis, Rotterdam, 1994, p. 536.
[10]	R. M. Quigley and F. Fernandez, “Effect of Organic Liquids on the Hydraulic Conductivity of Natural Clays. In Landfilling of Waste: Barriers,” In: T. H. Christensen, R. Cossu and R. Stegmann, Ed., Published by E & FN Spon, London, 1994, pp. 203-218.
[11]	A. Cancelli, R. Cossu, F. Malpei and A. Offredi, “Effects of Leachate on the Permeability of Sand-Bentonite Mixtures,” In: T. H. Christensen, R. Cossu and R. Stegmann, Ed., Effect of Organic Liquids on the Hydraulic Conductivity of Natural Clays, In Landfilling of Waste: Barriers, published by E & FN Spon, London, 1994, pp. 259-293.
[12]	J. L. Daniels, H. I. Inyang and I. K. Iskandar, “Durability of Boston blue clay in waste containment applications,” Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, Vol. 15, No. 2, 2003, pp. 144-152. HHHTUTUTUdoi:10.1061/(ASCE)0899-1561(2003)15:2(144)UUUTTT
[13]	H. E. Haxo and P. D. Haxo. “Basic Composition and Properties of synthetic materials in Lining Systems,” In: T.H. Christensen, R. Cossu and R. Stegmann, Ed., Landfilling of Waste: Barriers, Published by E & FN Spon, London, 1994, pp. 317-343.
[14]	A. L. Rollin, J. Mlynarek, J. Lafleur and A. Zanescu, “Performance Changes in Aged In-Situ HDPE Geomembrane,” In: T. H. Christensen, R. Cossu and R. Stegmann, Ed., Landfilling of Waste: Barriers, Published by E & FN Spon, London, 1994, pp. 431-443.
[15]	C. Duquennoi, C. Bernhard and S. Gaumet, “Laboratory Ageing of Geomembranes in Landfill Leachates,” In: T. H. Christensen, R. Cossu and R. Stegmann, Ed., Proceedings Sardinia 95, Fourth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, S. Margherita di Pula, Published by CISA, Environmental Sanitary Engineering, Inc, Cagliari, Vol. 2, 1993, pp. 397-404.
[16]	R. Surmann, P. Pierson and P. Cottour, “Geomembrane liner Performance and Long Term Durability,” In: T. H. Christensen, R. Cossu and R. Stegmann, Ed., Proceedings Sardinia 95, Fourth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, S. Margherita di Pula, , published by CISA, Environmental Sanitary Engineering, Inc, Cagliari, Vol. 2, 1994, pp. 405-414.
[17]	H. P. Sangam and R. K. Rowe, “Migration of Dilute Aqueous Organic Pollutants through HDPE Geomembranes,” Geotextiles and Geomembranes, Vol. 19, No. 6, 2001, pp. 329-357. HHHTUTUTUdoi:10.1016/S0266-1144(01)00013-9UUUTTT
[18]	R. M. Koerner and Y. G. Hsuan, “Lifetime Prediction of Polymeric Geomembranes Used in New Dam Construction and Dam Rehabilitation,” In Proceedings Associate of State Dam Safety Officials Conference, Lake Harmony, Pennsylvania, 2003.
[19]	W. Mueller and I. Jakob, “Oxidative Resistance of High-Density Polyethylene Geomembranes,” Polymer Degradation and Stability, Published by Elsevier Science Ltd., Oxford, Vol. 79, No. 1, 2003, pp. 161-172.
[20]	J. P. Giroud and R. Bonaparte, “Leakage through Liners Constructed with Geomembranes-Part I. Geomembrane Liners,” Geotextiles and Geomembranes, Vol. 8, No. 1, 1989, P. 27. HHHTUTUTUdoi:10.1016/0266-1144(89)90009-5UUUTTT
[21]	G. T. Darilek, D. Laine and J. O. Parra. “The Electrical Leak Location Method for Geomembrane Liners: Development and Applications,” Proceedings of the Geosynthetics’89 Conference, San Diego, 1989, pp. 456-466.
[22]	D. L. Laine and M. P. Miklas, “Detection and Location of Leaks in Geomembrane Liners Using an Electrical Method Case Histories,” Superfund’89 Proceedings of the 10th national Conference, 1989, pp. 35-40.
[23]	P. Colucci and M. C. Lavagnolo, “Three Years Field Experience in Electrical Control of Synthetic Landfill Liners,” In: T. H. Christensen, R. Cossu and R. Stegmann, Ed., Proceedings Sardinia 2001, Fifth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, S. Margherita di Pula, Cagliari, Published by CISA, Environmental Sanitary Engineering, Italy, Vol. 2, 1995, pp. 437-452.
[24]	S. J. McQuade and A. D. Needham, “Geomembrane Liner Defect-Causes, Frequency and Avoidance,” Proceeding Instituion, Civil Engeers Geotechnical Engineering, Vol. 137, No. 4, 1999, pp. 203-213.
[25]	A. L. Rollin, M. Marcotte, T. Jacqueline, L. Chaput, “Leak Location in Exposed Geomembrane Liners Using an Electrical Leak Detection Techniques,” Proceedings Geosynthetic 99, Industrial Fabrics Association International, Minneapolis, 1999, 27-102.
[26]	J. D. Esary and F. Proschan, “Coherent Structures with Non-Identical Components,” Technometric, Vol. 5, No. 2, 1981, p. 191. HHHTUTUTUdoi:10.2307/1266063UUUTTT
[27]	K. H. Johnson and J. L. Panders, “How Do Modern Landfills Leak?” In: T. H. Christensen, R. Cossu and R. Stegmann, Ed., Proceedings Sardinia 2003, Ninth International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, S. Margherita di Pula, Published by CISA, Environmental Sanitary Engineering, Inc, Cagliari, 2003.