What Geochemical Reactions Affect The Composition Of Leachate From A Municipal Landfill?
Susana L. Comte-Walters, Environmental Studies Program Leachates from municipal landfills have the potential to contaminate ground water. The composition of a leachate as well as the geological characteristics of the area will determine the geochemical reactions that take place downgradient from the landfill. These geochemical reactions may affect the concentration of dissolved species in the ground water. In addition, biological processes may also affect ground water composition. Water analysis data from typical upgradient (at the landfill), as well as downgradient wells for two municipal landfills, were obtained from the literature. The Shelby County landfill (SCL) is located near Memphis, TN (1), while the Borden landfill (BL) is located in Ontario, Canada (2). Both landfills are placed on sandy aquifers. However, while the BL is located on a carbonate rich base, the SCL is not. The concentrations were used as input for the U.S. Geological Survey model code “NETPATH” to determine eq