Hydrogeological Risk Assessments for Landfill

A site-specific hydrogeological risk assessment (HRA) must be included in all applications for an Environmental Permit (EP) for a waste disposal site.

ESI has considerable experience in undertaking hydrogeological risk assessment for landfill sites accepting inert, non-hazardous and hazardous waste, in a wide and varied range of locations and geological and hydrogeological environments.

Our technical approach to risk assessment has been carefully designed to meet the current regulatory requirements and we have also worked closely with regulatory bodies and the industry as a whole on the development and application of practical risk assessment methodologies.
 
Through the production of a robust conceptual model for the site, via a comprehensive desk study, the level of risk assessment appropriate to the site (simple through to complex) is determined. If required a suitable computer model is then developed.

In addition to other commercially available software packages, ESI has its own in-house commercial modelling software package RAM2. This software is highly versatile and enables a flexible approach in developing an appropriate risk assessment model, ensuring that the model represents conditions at the site as accurately as possible, and that no compromise is made to the conceptual model in order to fit the constraints of a particular modelling software.

RAM2 provides a robust and transparent assessment of risks using the source-pathway-receptor methodology and can incorporate a constant or declining source term, therefore enabling the consideration of the evolution of the waste (leachate) source term through time.

ESI’s transient version of RAM2 (TRAM) has been developed to allow the assessment of a landfill’s performance through time, taking into account changes to the engineering containment measures that are in place (e.g. geomembrane liners and landfill caps).

Additionally, ESI developed a spreadsheet tool that is used widely in the industry for hydraulically contained sites.  This provides a simple but reliable means to calculate diffusive contaminant flux and the resultant impact on groundwater quality when assessing sub-water table landfill sites.

Services: - Hydrogeological Risk Assessments for Landfill

• Desk study and conceptual model development
• Assessment of the level of risk and the complexity of the risk assessment required
• Construction of an appropriate computer risk assessment model
• Interpretation and concise reporting of the results
• Regulatory liaison
• Engineering design optimisation
  

ESI’s expertise in soil and groundwater science and our proven track record working with a wide range of clients and liaising with regulatory authorities as required, enables us to provide bespoke services to our clients in the waste management industry, tailoring risk assessment models to the specific requirements of the site, advising on the optimum engineering design and ensuring the most cost effective solution to the problem.

Case Studies: - Hydrogeological Risk Assessments for Landfill

Please contact ESI (01743 276100 / email) for more information on hydrogeological risk assessments for landfill service.