Effectiveness of resistivity monitoring for interpreting temporal changes in landfill properties

It is always possible for impermeable layers to exist in landfills. When they do, the properties of the solution at the exit of the leachate-collection system might not accurately reflect the overall properties of the landfill. This study examines whether resistivity monitoring is effective for determining the influence of impermeable layers on the leachate. The test cell used in this study was filled with waste made up mainly of incinerator ash and shredded incombustible material. Three lines of resistivity sensors were laid in the uppermost layer of the fill. A resistivity profile was recorded periodically from each of these lines. The water-table level and leachate properties were measured concurrently. Leachate conductivity was mainly controlled by concentrations of the main ions, and it correlated inversely to variations in resistivity. Temporal changes in the resistivity of the fills are an excellent means of assessing the leaching in fills. Monitoring the properties of leachate, combined with resistivity profiling, is extremely useful for interpreting the temporal changes of properties in landfills containing impermeable layers.     

Influence of the geomembrane on time-lapse ERT measurements for leachate injection monitoring

Leachate recirculation is a key process in the operation of municipal waste landfills as bioreactors. To quantify the water content and to evaluate the leachate injection system, in situ methods are required to obtain spatially distributed information, usually electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). However, this method can present false variations in the observations due to several parameters. This study investigates the impact of the geomembrane on ERT measurements. Indeed, the geomembrane tends to be ignored in the inversion process in most previously conducted studies. The presence of the geomembrane can change the boundary conditions of the inversion models, which have classically infinite boundary conditions. Using a numerical modelling approach, the authors demonstrate that a minimum distance is required between the electrode line and the geomembrane to satisfy the good conditions of use of the classical inversion tools. This distance is a function of the electrode line length (i.e. of the unit electrode spacing) used, the array type and the orientation of the electrode line. Moreover, this study shows that if this criterion on the minimum distance is not satisfied, it is possible to significantly improve the inversion process by introducing the complex geometry and the geomembrane location into the inversion tools. These results are finally validated on a field data set gathered on a small municipal solid waste landfill cell where this minimum distance criterion cannot be satisfied.     

Evaluation of groundwater and soil pollution in a landfill area using electrical resistivity imaging survey

Landfills are sources of groundwater and soil pollution due to the production of leachate and its migration through refuse. This study was conducted in order to determine the extent of groundwater and soil pollution within and around the landfill of Seri Petaling located in the State of Selangor, Malaysia. The condition of nearby surface water was also determined. An electrical resistivity imaging survey was used to investigate the leachate production within the landfill. Groundwater geochemistry was carried out and chemical analysis of water samples was conducted upstream and downstream of the landfill. Surface water was also analyzed in order to determine its quality. Soil chemical analysis was performed on soil samples taken from different locations within and around the landfill in the vadose zone (unsaturated zone) and below the water table (in the soil saturated zone). The resistivity image along line L–L₁ indicated the presence of large zones of decomposed waste bodies saturated with highly conducting leachate. Analysis of trace elements indicated their presence in very low concentrations and did not reflect any sign of heavy metal pollution of ground and surface water or of soil. Major ions represented by Na, K, and Cl were found in anomalous concentrations in the groundwater of the downstream bore hole, where they are 99.1%, 99.2%, and 99.4%, respectively, higher compared to the upstream bore hole. Electrical conductivity (EC) was also found in anomalous concentration downstream. Ca and Mg ions represent the water hardness (which is comparatively high downstream). There is a general trend of pollution towards the downstream area. Sulfates (SO₄) and nitrates (NO₃) are found in the area in low concentrations, even below the WHO standards for drinking water, but are significantly higher in the surface water compared to the groundwater. Phosphate (PO₄) and nitrite (NO₂), although present in low levels, are significantly higher at the downstream. There is no significant difference in the amount of fluoride (F) in the different locations. In the soil vadose zone, heavy metals were found to be in their typical normal ranges and within the background concentrations. Soil exchangeable bases were significantly higher in the soil saturated zone compared to the vadose zone, and no significant difference was obtained in the levels of inorganic pollutants. With the exception of Cd, the concentration ranges of all trace elements (Cu, Zn, Cr, Pb, and Ni) of Seri Petaling landfill soils were below the upper limits of baseline concentrations published from different sources.     

Changing regularity of rock damage variable and resistivity under loading condition

In this paper, the stress-strain, resistivity and acoustic emission simultaneous test of compression test for rock have been carried out to obtain the regression equation between the resistivity, and elastic modulus of rock under various damage state, then based on the rock damage theory, derived the changing regularity of rock damage variables and resistivity under loading condition. In accordance with the acoustic emission characteristic relative ratio, this paper has verified the feasibility of its changing regularity. By virtue of this relation equation, it is possible to online monitor the extent of surrounding rock progressive damage in mined-out regions, so as to bring forward the time for danger warning. Consequently, it is capable to take control measures in the initial stage of the development of disaster, which has very important significance for the prevention and management of mine dynamic disasters.     

The utilization of brackish water, protecting the quality of the upper fresh water layer in coastal aquifers

Increasing salinity is one of the most significant and widespread forms of groundwater pollution in coastal areas. This paper presents the causes and impacts of saline water intrusion in coastal areas. Various causes of salt water intrusion, and approaches for the determination of its extent and various measures to control the salt water intrusion are described. An aquifer performance test (APT) approach is presented to identify the extent of existing salt water intrusion in the study area located in the southwest coastal region of Gujarat State (India). A resistivity based experimental technique is used to identify the quality of the groundwater available at different depths. A methodology is presented to assess the extent of available fresh and saline groundwater and to find out the limit up to which lower saline groundwater can be withdrawn for industrial purposes without affecting the upper fresh water layer which can be made available for domestic purposes.     

电阻率CPTU的环境污染场地评价研究现状

简述了当前静力触探的现状与发展。介绍了国际最新研制的RCPTU(电阻率孔压静力触探)探头和多功能静力触探技术在污染场地评价、地下水污染和垃圾填埋场地下水位高度评估等环境领域的应用及工程实例。指出了多功能静力触探测试技术研究中存在的问题,展望了其应用前景。     

Delineation of soil and groundwater contamination using geophysical methods at a waste disposal site in Çanakkale, Turkey

Direct current (DC) resistivity, self potential (SP) and very low frequency electromagnetic (VLF-EM) measurements are carried out to detect the spread of groundwater contamination and to locate possible pathways of leachate plumes, that resulted from an open waste disposal site of Canakkale municipality. There is no proper management of the waste disposal site in which industrial and domestic wastes were improperly dumped. Furthermore, because of the dumpsite is being located at the catchment area borders of a small creek and is being topographically at a high elevation relative to the urban area, the groundwater is expected to be hazardously contaminated. Interpretations of DC resistivity geoelectrical data showed a low resistivity zone (<5 ohm-m), which appears to be a zone, that is fully saturated with leachate from an open dumpsite. The VLF-EM and SP method, support the results of geoelectrical method relating a contaminated zone in the survey area. There is a good correlation between the geophysical investigations and the results of previously collected geochemical and hydrochemical measurements.     

基于电阻率法的垃圾渗滤液渗漏及迁移规律动态监测技术探讨

为探讨垃圾渗滤液侵入地下介质的动态变化过程,引入基于电阻率法原理的地球物理探测手段,开展室内和室外渗滤液污染扩散的动态监测试验。结果表明,渗滤液在土壤中的扩散过程会引起不同时期视电阻率低阻异常区的动态变化,且变化幅度和污染程度存在一定量化关系,基于此特征可确定渗漏点和渗滤液扩散区的污染范围、程度及趋势。     

Rock matrix diffusivity determinations by in-situ electrical conductivity measurements

A fast method to determine rock matrix diffusion properties directly in the bedrock would be valuable in the investigation of a possible site for disposal of nuclear waste. An "effective diffusivity borehole log" would provide important information on the variability of this entity over the area studied. As opposed to traditional matrix diffusion laboratory experiments, electrical conductivity measurements are fast, inexpensive and also easy to carry out in-situ. In this study, electrical resistivity data from borehole logging, as well as from measurements on the actual core, is evaluated with the purpose of extracting matrix diffusivity data. The influence of migration of ions in the electrical double layer, which can be of great importance in low ionic strength pore water, is also considered in evaluating the in-situ data to accurately determine the effective pore diffusivity. The in-situ data compare fairly well to those measured in the rock core.     

Superposition of borehole-to-surface voltage residuals for Vadose Zone plume delineation

An injected tracer field experiment was conducted at the University of Idaho Ground Water Field Laboratory to evaluate the application of borehole-to-surface voltage measurements for delineation of the tracer distribution in partially saturated, fractured basalt. A tap water tracer was injected into a fracture-dominated, salt-water plume formed during a previous salt-water injection experiment. The tap water tracer was injected into a central injection well under constant hydraulic head for 34 days. The injection well was surrounded by seven test boreholes. Each borehole contained several copper wire electrodes for borehole-to-surface potential measurements between a surface grid of 224 copper sulfate, porous pot electrodes. Eight pole-pole, borehole-to-surface voltage data sets were acquired during each measurement period by energization of a selected electrode in each of the eight boreholes. Predicted voltages for a uniform earth (homogeneous and isotropic) potential model (finite difference) were subtracted from each data set (for its respective current source location), and the voltage residuals superposed to create new data sets with greater measurement sensitivity and coverage, to aid in interpretation. These data sets were collected over four measurement periods during tap water injection and four measurement periods during the subsequent 64-day drainage phase. The data were interpreted with the use of three-dimensional models and by comparisons with other electrical and hydrological observations. Results indicate that superposition of multiple data sets of voltage residuals significantly improved the lateral resolution of subsurface bulk resistivity changes that occurred over time.