Risk Assessment of the Impact of Landfill on Surface Water Resources - a Case Study of the New Sendafa Landfill
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Date
2016-03
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
River catchments in the vicinity of landfill site are highly vulnerable to leachate
contamination and are exposed to increased risk due to storms and flooding driven by
special weather conditions. The objective of this research, thus, was to better understand
how the new Sendafa Landfill which is located in the Akaki River catchment might
interact with extreme storm events and to investigate associated future risks. The study
evaluated potential release of liquid contaminants from the Landfill and examined a
broad spectrum of potential conditions that may contribute to these releases. The first
step was to investigate how surface water runoff from a storm event at the Landfill
contributes to the risk of contaminant release from waste sites based on the source -
pathway - receptor approach. Water balance model was used to quantify leachate flow
that would be released into the water resource system. Analyses were performed to
evaluate the exposure of Akaki catchment to contaminant. Finally, possible mitigation
measures were proposed.
The result from the risk assessment confirmed that the risk associated with accidental
release of leachate from the landfill would lead to contamination of surface water bodies
in the vicinity. It was estimated that under 10 year, 100 year and 200 year return period 6
hours duration rainfall, maximum leachate volume of 2160.6 m3\day, 3039 m3\day and
3297.2 m3\day will be generated from the landfill respectively, out of which leachate
flow of 824.6 m3/day, 1703 m3/day and 1961.2 m3/day will be above the capacity of the
leachate collection system for the respective storm events. This could potentially cause
transport of waste solution that may result in a severe pollution risk.
Therefore it is recommended that further studies on the determination of risks and its
future implications based on a wide range of climatic, environmental and socioeconomic
scenarios would give a broader picture of the issues involved and to be able to
address them for a better future environment.
Key words: Landfill, surface water resources, risk analysis, extreme storm events,
leachate, Water Balance Method
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Keywords
Landfill, Surface Water Resources, Risk Analysis, Extreme Storm Events, Leachate, Water Balance Method