Clogging of finger drain systems in MSW landfills

A numerical model ‘BioClog’ is used to examine clogging of granular drainage material within finger drains at the base of landfills. The reduction in porosity of drainage material is evaluated as the accumulation of clog mass reduces the pore spaces of granular media. The leachate mounding within the landfills caused by the reduction in hydraulic conductivity of finger drain is modeled. The effect of overburden pressure on the engineering properties of waste material and consequent leachate mounding is considered. The calculated rates of leachate mound development for two landfills with finger drain leachate collection are shown to be in encouraging agreement with the observed data at the times when data were available. It is demonstrated that a significant leachate mound can be expected to develop over time when the leachate collection system is comprised of finger drains; however the rate of increase and the magnitude at a given time will depend on a number of factors including the grainsize, thickness and spacing of the finger drains, and the thickness of waste as well as the leachate generation rate.

► The clogging of granular material decreases the drainage capacity of finger drains.
► The calculated leachate mounds generally agree well with measured field data.
► A number of factors affecting the rate and magnitude of leachate mounding are examined.
► Finger drains are not effective at controlling leachate mounding to low levels within MSW landfills.