Geophysical characterization in solid waste landfill for evaluation of geotechnical instability conditioners

• Main Authors: Carolina Del Roveri, Fabiano Tomazini da Conceição, Diego de Souza Sardinha, Letícia Hirata Godoy, César Augusto Moreira
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo 2013-03-01
• Series: Geologia USP. Série Científica
• Subjects: Electrical resistivity; Leachate; Seepage; Mass movement; Ravine.
• Online Access: http://ppegeo.igc.usp.br/pdf/guspsc/v13n1/02.pdf

The disposal of solid waste can create environmental problems, in addition to the potential risk of instability even in planned geotechnical works, such as provisions in stacks or high ends of the landfill, because they represent mere adjustments in civil engineering works. The Leme city, SP, generates about 35 t/day of municipal waste, that are deposited in a landfill located in the Barro Preto neighborhood. This work conducted a geophysical survey, based on geotechnical instability evidence in area, for analysis of the conditioners that cause on the sides leachate resurgence landfill and its relationship to mass movements and ravines installation in cover soil, with consequent waste exposure. The results indicate horizons of low resistivity connected with resurgence points generated by the organic matter decomposition contained in the waste. Such horizons result in leachate concentration in some places, which, in turn, may lead to loss of cohesion of the materials constituting the residues mass. The results are areas with mass flow by rotational movements, which, together with the surface flow of rainwater, evolves into ravines and exposed residues, preferably at the resurgence point. The leachate flow on the surface affects areas beyond the limits at landfill with direct impact on local agriculture and risk to pedestrians using the highway bordered by the landfill beyond the soil and the local aquifer.