Pollutant migration from two sanitary landfill sites near Sarnia, Ontario

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Abstract
Contamination profiles below two youthful landfills founded on thick silty clay deposits near Sarnia, Ontario were obtained by squeezing pore water from Shelby tube samples and analyzing this water by absorption flame photometry for Ca++, Mg++, Na+, and K+. Pollution fronts were observed below both sites, the contaminant cation concentrations attenuating with distance to normal background values.The older landfill was about 7 years old, was founded at 5.6 m depth below the weathered crust on intact silty clays, and was characterized by a downward flow gradient from the base of the fill. Pollution (cation) migration had proceeded downwards for a distance of 30 cm compared to the calculated maximum possible advance of the seepage front of only 4 cm.The younger landfill was about 2.5 years old, was founded at 2.3 m depth within the crust on weathered and fissured soils, and was characterized by upward flow into the landfill due to heavy loads created by the large mound of waste. Pollution migration had proceeded for a distance of 50–80 cm opposite to the prevailing direction of seepage flow and is presumed to have occurred along well developed fissures in the soil.At both sites the diffuse pollution fronts are attributed to cation (chemical) diffusion which, in the early stages of both landfills, has overwhelmed seepage flow.

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