Title: A simple method to check for natural attenuation downstream of abandoned waste disposal sites

Authors: Ekkehard Holzbecher, Helmut Kerndorff, Stephan Kuhn

Addresses: Weierstrass Institute of Applied Analysis and Stochastics (WIAS), Mohrenstr. 39, 12587 Berlin, Germany. ' Federal Environmental Agency/Umweltbundesamt (UBA), Schichauweg 58, 12307 Berlin, Germany. ' Struppe and Kuehn Umweltberatung, Hochspannungsweg 22, 12359 Berlin, Germany

Abstract: Evaluations of waste sites are based on the assessment of whether conditions for Natural Attenuation (NA) processes are favourable. A method is proposed as a first check for effects of NA in the groundwater emissions. For the application of the method, concentrations of the concerned substance and of a tracer must be available at observation wells at different distances from the source, preferably along a flowpath of the waste site. The method is demonstrated at waste sites, with TOC as proxy for a degradable component. The method can be recommended within a priority programme for NA-remediation on landfills.

Keywords: waste disposal; natural attenuation; tracers; modelling; TOC; waste site evaluation; groundwater emissions; landfill remediation; total organic carbon; environmental pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2010.034239

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2010 Vol.42 No.1/2/3, pp.240 - 257

Published online: 30 Jul 2010 *

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