Leachate Treatment

[lauragray]

We are looking at various leachate pretreatment (before RO) systems including US Filter or Zenon's ZeeWeed membrane bioreactor for our landfill. If anyone has experience in these types of systems-pros and cons on operations, maintenance, performance, costs, etc., I would like to hear about it. Thanks, Laura

 

[bimr]

There is a report online that may be helpful:

http://www.usbr.gov/water/media/pdfs/report060.pdf

 

[lauragray]

Thanks, I will check it out. Laura

 

[steveonline]

Is it necessary to achieve such a high effluent quality that you need a Zenon membrane and RO? I have designed many leachate treatment plants in successful use with the first now having been in constant use for nearly 18 years, in the UK. Discharges are reliably achieved to high quality watercourses with extended aeration biological treatment, plus reed bed polishing. If you would like to give me the main water quality parameters I could comment further. Effluent qualities suitable for sewer discharge can also be achieved very readily by this method usually without a reed bed polishing stage - is there no local sewer you can discharge to?

 

[lauragray]

Thanks for the comments. There is no sewer available at the site; we were previously hauling leachate to the sewer plant/lift stations about 25 miles away. We are concerned with TDS, Chlorides, Nitrate and metals to drinking water standards. We have authorization to discharge to percolation ponds and must meet drinking water standards at our compliance wells (groundwater). OUr leachate is fairly weak now as the landfill just started taking waste in 9/02. The UF/RO system, although fairly high capital cost, is a small package unit and doesn't require much to operate, both in labor and cost. Since I first posted this question, we have arranged to have a skid mounted UF/RO on site and will operate as a pilot for 3 months and then decide whether to purchase. Thanks again for your comments. Laura