Influence of the Leachate Drainage Systems on Groundwater Quality in Muntenia Region

The greatest challenge, as far as landfill designing is concerned, is building a drainage system capable of diminishing the most severe negative effect, i.e., groundwater pollution. Based on waste collection system configuration – drainage conditions for existing landfills, drainage of homogeneity, etc. – the present paper managed to determine the hydraulic conductivity of the drainage layer and the maximum depth of saturation. Drainage system effectiveness is highly dependent on efficient analyses of the leachate collection systems. One of the most important factors of the present study is represented by the maximum saturated depth of infiltration with a net value of 98 cm/year. The hydraulic conductivity determined for this value of net infiltration reveals that, in some cases, the vertical drain leachate drainage is prevalent. The study covered a span of two years. In order to identify groundwater pollution levels in Muntenia region five sampling points were established; their focus was to analyse COD, BOD, pH and TSS values. Study results revealed a lower degree of pollution in the case of industrial waste landfills as compared to domestic waste ones.