Question

A sanitary landfill with a surface area of 6000 m2 receives a yearly rainfall amount of 300 mm. About 20 percent of this precipitation is runoff and does not infiltrate the surface. A leachate collection system, which is installed underneath the landfill, is 90 percent effective at collecting and treating any water that infiltrates the surface of the landfill.Assuming consistent yearly rainfall amounts, what is the volume of leachate, in m3, that the landfill will be able to treat per year? *

Answer 1

Answer:

1296 $m^{3}$ of water

Explanation:

Area of landfill is 6000 $m^{2}$

Rain fall depth is 300 mm = 300 x $10^{-3}$ m

volume of water that fall on the landfill is area x depth of water

v = 6000 x 300 x $10^{-3}$ = 1800 $m^{3}$ of water

20% of this precipitate is runoff i.e 0.2 x 1800 = 360 $m^{3}$

total volume that infiltrates is 1800 - 360 = 1440 $m^{3}$

the leachate treatment is 90% effective in treating infiltrates, i.e 90% of 1440 $m^{3}$ = 0.9 x 1440 = 1296 $m^{3}$ of water water is treated yearly