Action Leakage Rate Calculation

摘要

The initial response leakage rate(IRLR)is the rate of measured leakage in a double-lined landfill that requires investigation and potential mitigation.The action leakage rate(ALR)is the rate of measured leakage in a double-lined landfill that requires investigation and potentially advanced remedial efforts possibly leading to closure of the landfill.This white paper explores the following three methods for specifying an IRLR and ALR: the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)Method based on capacity of the leak detection layer;the Quality Based Action Leakage(QBAL)Method based on Giroud’s equation for calculating flow through defects;and the Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance(HELP)Method based on leachate generation modeling software.Note that method names were assigned by the authors for ease of reference.Based on a review of these three methods,the QBAL Method is recommended for specifying the IRLR and ALR.The IRLR and ALR specified using the QBAL Method are consistent with several permitted and permit-pending IRLR and ALR at existing and proposed double-lined landfill facilities in the southeastern United States.The IRLR and ALR specified using the QBAL Method are approximately two orders of magnitude greater than the average measured leakage at several existing double-lined landfill facilities.