Integration of different site investigation techniques to assess pollution and contamination in a municipal solid waste disposal site

Author(s)

Giulliana Mondelli

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 2008-10-03

Examining board members

Heraldo Luiz Giacheti; Vagner Roberto Elis; Claudio Fernando Mahler; Fernando Schnaid; Lazaro Valentin Zuquette

• Advisor: Heraldo Luiz Giacheti

Abstract

For the last years, the concern about pollution and contamination of the soil and groundwater caused by the industrial and municipal solid waste disposal sites has increased in Brazil. Due to the non-application of the environmental guidelines for landfill construction and operation, dumps and controlled dumps in operation or deactivated, located in small and medium-size brazilian cities, have called the attention about this problem. This Thesis presents the results of several tests carried out at the Bauru\'s municipal solid waste disposal site, located in the center of São Paulo State and above the Bauru\'s aquifer, which appears at approximately half São Paulo State superficial area. The main objective was to assess the pollution and contamination caused by this landfill, using different techniques for geoenvironmental site investigation. These techniques included: superficial geophysics, monitoring wells, piezocone (CPTU), resistivity piezocone (RCPTU) and soil and water sampling. Laboratory tests including characterization, electrical resistivity measurements and pollutant transport in undisturbed soil samples were conducted to verify and to better understand the contamination plumes pathways and their interaction with the environmental site. A review of all existing data about the site, hydrogeological characteristics and operation of the landfill, since it was idealized in 1992, were also important for a better selection of new in situ tests and (re) interpretation of them. The main contributions are: a) Application of new site investigation techniques in contaminated tropical soils; b) Development of a system in laboratory for pollutants transport parameters estimation and electrical resistivity measurements in tropical soils; c) Evaluation of the electrical resistivity measures as a promising tool for geoenvironmental researches; d) Pollution and contamination assessment of the site based on the different techniques; e) Directions and suggestions for future site investigations at the study site or in other tropical areas. The geophysical tests facilitated the visualization of the spatial distribution and directions of the local contamination plumes. The piezocone tests confirmed this contamination in some local spots, supported by special soil and water samplers. Numerous groundwater samples collected from the permanent monitoring wells allowed the assessment of the contamination plumes evolution as time passed by. The resistivity measurements in laboratory detected background resistivity values for the local soils, confirming the great influence of the mineralogy, weathering and degree of evolution of the tropical soils. The high permeability and dispersivity values explain the occurrence of more than one contamination plume at the site: a principal and permanent plume located to the west side; on the south of the landfill, where medical wastes were disposed; to the east side of the groundwater flow, caused by the high piezometric leachate levels inside the landfill; and some central spots of contamination occurring below and deep inside the landfill. The results confirmed the importance of the integration of different techniques for geoenvironmental site investigation, using direct and indirect methods to better understand the contamination and pollution in tropical soils, which have complex genesis and behavior, and take place in a great part of the brazilian territory. Practical proposals to improve and carry out new tests at the site, as well as for recovering plans, monitoring and operation of the landfill are presented in order to improve the local in situ conditions. (AU)