Study of the leachate influence of construction and demolition wastes landfills on the quality of water resources

• Grant number: 11/50744-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2011
• End date: January 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Environmental Sanitation
• Principal Investigator: Valdir Schalch
• Grantee: Valdir Schalch
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In Brazil, the resolution nº 307/2002 of the National Environrnental Council (CONAMA) defines that the construction and demolition (C&D) wastes must have C&D waste landfills as their final destination. However, these landfills receive small quantities of wastes from other sources and non-inert wastes. This fact can be aggravated because the C&D wastes are disposed in these unlined landfills and without drains of leachate. ln this context, the C&D wastes leachate may migrate to water supplies causing risks to both human health and the environment. ln an attempt to contribute to this area of knowledge, this project aims to investigate the leachate influence of C&D waste landfills on the quality of water resources. A survey will be conducted in three stages - analysis of the environrnental history of the C&D wastes landfill of São Carlos-SP, simulation of leachate samples of C&D wastes Iysimeters (saturated and unsaturated) and study of the C&D wastes landfill of the city through the collection of surface water (2 points) and groundwater (4 points) - to characterize the water samples and verify if they are in accordance with the national drinking water standards. The research will identify requirements for improvement projects, execution and control of C&D wastes landfills to minimize future potential adverse impacts generated by these residues in water resources. (AU)