DANIEL MITHAMO KIONGO

ENC211-0338/2019
ECE 2504: PUBLIC HEALTH ENGINEERING III
CIVIL 5.1 B
CAT 2
QUESTION

A new landfill is to be designed for Thika. The landfill will have an operation life of 20 years and will serve
a population base of 25,000 people. The municipal solid waste for the community is considered to have
properties that are typical of that of similar sized communities in Nairobi. The average monthly
precipitation and temperature for Thika X BC given in the following Table.

Month Temp Precipitation Month Temp Precipitation

Celsius (mm) Celsius (mm)

Jan 19.6 °C 39.2 July 17.4 °C 79.4

Feb 20.5 °C 61.4 Aug 17.8 °C 78.2

Mar 20.5 °C 93.1 Sept 19.1 °C 72.3

Apr 19.4 °C 246.7 Oct 19.5 °C 121.2

May 18.8 °C 243 Nov 18.4 °C 128.1

June 18 °C 139.9 Dec 18.6 °C 81.2

The stratigraphy for the proposed landfill site is 1.5 m of loam (60% silt, 20% sand, 2% organic matter,
fine granular soil structure and slow to moderate permeability) overlying 20 meters of homogeneous till
overlying a homogeneous limestone aquifer. The hydraulic conductivity for the till is 4 x 10-7 cm/sec.
The depth below ground surface to the water table in the till is 12 meters with an annual fluctuation of 
0.5 meter. The landfill bottom is to be above the water table.

The landfill design consists of 20 cells. The size of each landfill cell is determined using the estimated
volume of municipal solid waste to be placed in one year. The landfill operation begins in January. Each
completed cell is capped at the end of the year. The average depth of waste in each cell is 15 meters at the
time of placement.
 (i) Estimate the mass of the municipal solid waste that will be placed in the landfill in each
year. Estimate the yearly volume of the waste and the area required for each cell.
Estimate the maximum density of the waste at the bottom of a cell. State all
assumptions.

Population in base year = 25,000 people (Po)

Operation life = 20 years.

Assumptions.

 Assume an annual growth rate of 3%.

 Assume waste production rate of 0.412kg/p/d
 Assume the loose bulk density of waste to be = 200 kg/m3. (pg 52 solid waste engineering)
 Assume water table is at 1 meter below the bottom of land fill (pg 90 design and construction of
manual landfills.)

Population projection at the end of year 1. (Pf)

Pf = Po (1+r )n

Pf = population at end of year 1

Po = current population.

r= growth rate

n= year of projection.

=25000(1+003)1=25750 people.

Waste generated in year 1; (25750 *0.412*365) = 3,872,285 kg/yr.

Depth of waste in each cell = 15 metres.

volume of waste = (𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒 )/(𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒)

volume = (3872285 )/200 = 19361.425m3

Area of cell required; ( pg 54 design manual for manual landfills.)

A = (𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒 )/(ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒) = 19361.425/15 = 1290.76m2

Maxim density of waste at the bottom of the cell.

Compaction ratio =(𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒)/(𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛. )

Since water table is at 1 meter below bottom of landfill, and it fluctuates at ± 0.5 , height of waste in the
landfill is = 11.5

Volume after compaction = 1721.0156 * 11.5 = 19,791.68m3

Compaction ratio = = 19361.425/19791.68 = 1.3

Maximum density = density of loose waste * compaction ratio

= 150*1.3= 190kg/m3

(ii) Calculate the percolation through the landfill cover of a completed cell for any 3
consecutive months. State all assumption.

Percolation ( C ) = P ( 1 – R )- S – E. (ref solid waste engineering page 116)

Where; p= precipitation.

R= run-off coefficient.

S=storage within the soil

e= evapotranspiration.

Assumptions.

 Run off coefficient for is 0.22. ( pg 115 solid waste engineering.)

 Field capacity is 300mm/m of soil. The soil is silty loam. (pg 116 solid waste engineering.)
 Percolation considered is for three rainy months. Highest percolation occurs during the months
with most precipitation. (pg 115 solid waste engineering ).
 Change in storage within the soil is zero.
 Evapotranspiration is estimated using the Thornthwaite method.

Thornthwaite formula;

𝐸 = 1.6〖(10𝑇/𝐼)〗^𝛼

Where; E= evapotranspiration in cm.

T = mean monthly temperature.

I = Annual heat index for a given area which is the sum of 12 monthly index values i

i= 〖(𝑻/𝟓)〗^(𝟏. 𝟓𝟏𝟒)

𝛼= 6.75 × 10^(−7) 𝐼^3 − 7.71 × 10^(−5) 𝐼^2 + 1.79 × 10^(−2) 𝐼 + 0.49

= 6.75 × 10^(−7) 〖(90.42)〗^3 − 7.71 × 10^(−5) (〖90.42)〗^2 + 1.79 × 10^(−2) (90.42)

+ 0.49

𝜶 = 𝟏. 𝟗𝟕𝟕𝟐

Computation of evapotranspiration.
 Monthly Potential
Temp Index(i) i=〖 Evapotranspiration
Month
(°C) (𝑻/𝟓)〗 (mm)= 𝐸 = 1.6〖
^(𝟏. 𝟓𝟏𝟒) (10𝑇/𝐼)〗^𝛼
Jan 19.6 7.9111 73.9
Feb 20.5 8.4675 80.7
Mar 20.5 8.4675 80.7
Apr 19.4 7.7892 72.4
May 18.8 7.4274 68.0
June 18 6.9541 62.4
July 17.4 6.6062 58.4
Aug 17.8 6.8375 61.1
Sept 19.1 7.6075 70.2
Oct 19.5 7.8500 73.1
Nov 18.4 7.1894 65.2
Dec 18.6 7.3081 66.6

Annual heat index = ∑▒𝑖 = 90.4154.

The three months with the highest precipitation are April, May and June.

Percolation ( C ) = P ( 1 – R )- S – E

Total precipitation = 246.7+243+139.9 = 629.6mm.

Total evapotranspiration = 72.4+68+62.4 =202.8mm.

C = 629.6 (1- 0.22) – 0- 202.8 = 288.288

Percolation for 3 months = 288.3m/3 months

(iii) Estimate the initial mass of chloride in a landfill cell. Using the leaching model
described in section 5.6 of the notes (page 114) estimate the leachate chloride
concentration at 10 years for the first cell. Assume that the annual percolation through
the cells with a cap is 10 cm/year and that prior to capping the annual percolation is 20
cm/year. List all assumptions in point form
From George Tchobanoglous,Frank Kreith: Handbook of solid waste management, table 14.3,
Chlorine composition in a new land fill is given as a range at 200- 300mg/L and a typical value
of 500mg/L depending on metabolic state of the land fill.

The leaching model given in Jorge Jaramillo:

Guidelines for the design, construction and
operation of manualsanitary landfills page 114 is the swiss model which gives the estimate
of the flow of leachate or percolated liquid by using the equation:

where: Q = Mean flow of leachate (l/s)

P = Mean annual precipitation (mm/year)
A = Surface area of the landfill (m2)
t = Number of seconds in a year (31,536,000 s/year)
K = Coefficient that depends on the degree of compaction of the waste, the recommended values
of which are the following:

For weakly compacted landfills with a specific gravity of 0.4 to 0.7 t/m3, the estimated production
of leachate is between 25 and 50% (K = 0.25 to 0.50) of the mean annual precipitation for the
landfill area. For strongly compacted landfills with a specific gravity > 0.7 t/m3, the estimated
production of leachate is between 15 and 25 % (K = 0.15 to 0.25) of the mean annual precipitation
for the landfill area. Observations made at several small landfills have confirmed that leachate
generation occurs chiefly during rainy periods and for several days afterwards, and stops during
dry periods. It would therefore be a good idea to use an adaptation of the above method to calculate
leachate generation from precipitation during the rainy months and not during the whole year. This
criterion is important when estimating the leachate drainage or storage system for manual sanitary
landfills.

Therefore, it is suggested that in the equation the precipitation records used be those of the month
of maximum rainfall, expressed in mm/month. This method will give a good approximation of the
flow:

Qlm = Pm x A x K
where: Qlm = Mean leachate flow generated (m3/month)
P = Maximum monthly precipitation (mm/month)
A = Surface area of the landfill(m2)
K = Coefficient that depends on the degree of waste compaction 1 m = 103 mm

P= 39.2+61.4+93.1+246.7+243+139.9+79.4+78.2+72.3+121.2+128.1+ 81.2 = 1383.7mm

A= 572m2 (from Excel sheet in part 1)

t = Number of seconds in a year (31,536,000 s/year)
K=0.33 by interpolation.

Q= 1/(31536000) x 1383.7 x 572 x 0.33

=8.365x 10-3 L/S

For more accurate view and since Leachate generation occurs during rainy seasons as per
Jorge Jaramillo: Guidelines for the design, construction and operation of manualsanitary
landfills page 115, April, the month with the most rain is considered.

Q = 1/(30x 24x 3600) x 246.7 x 572 x 0.33 =1.8x 10 -2 L/S

From George Tchobanoglous,Frank Kreith: Handbook of solid waste management, table

14.8,chloride composition for a mature landfill can be taken as 100-400mg/L.
Since we are considering the 10th year, it can safely be assumed the first cell is matured. The
choride content is therefore taken as 300mg/L.

Leachate quantity can be determined from Figure 7 in page 21 in Dennis G. Fenn, Keith J
Hanley; Use of water balance method for predictingleachate production from solid waste
disposal sites

Percolation =1000mm/year
Area=572m2

From the graph and interpolation,leachate quantity is determined as 8.5x 104L/ year=2.69L/S

(iv) Using the leachate COD production curve given below, estimate the COD concentration
in the leachate at the end of year four (i.e. three years after the first landfill cell is capped).
Note that there will be more than one cell. Assume that the annual percolation through
the cells with a cap is 10 cm/year and that prior to capping the annual percolation is 20
cm/year. List all assumptions in point form. [15 marks]

COD = 90,000 [1 – e-0.50 L]

COD = COD Leached in mg per kg dry MSW

L = moisture loading in L per kg dry waste

Volume of cell =14045m3

Area of cell =936m2
Mass of solid waste =8+ 26682kg
Volume of percolation = area of cell x depth
Uncapped cell =936x 0.2= 187.2m2
Capped cell =936 x 0.1 =93.6m3
Moisture loading for the cells;

= (93.6 x 6) + (187.2 x4) =1310.4m3 = 1310400Litres.

Any waste =0.75 x 4 x 8426682 = 25280046kgs

moisture loading per dry waste L =13010400L/25280046kg =0.0518L/Kg

COD leached = 9000(1-e-0.5L)

=9000(1-e-0.5)

=900(1-e-0.5x0.0518)
=2302mg/Kg

(v) Estimate the Landfill Gas Produced per year for the four years after the landfill begins
operation. Assume a lag time of 2 years before gas is produced.

The main gas produced is methane. Methane production from a landfill is estimated using this equation;
(ref page 842 solid waste technology).

G = Wa×Lo×k× 𝑒^(−0.05(𝑇 − 𝑡))

Where; G = CH4 production rate from a single year’s refuse (m3 CH4/year)

Wa = annual waste acceptance rate (t/year)

Lo = ultimate methane yield (m3 CH4/t)

k = decay rate (per year)

T = years since the landfill started receiving waste.

t = lag time in years.

Assumptions.

 Assume all fractions in the waste have the same value for k and Lo and therefore emit methane at
the same rate.
 Lo and k are estimated using table 10.10.1 (page 844 solid waste technology.)
 Increase in CH4 increases k for the same value of Lo.

Computation.

Wa =waste generated = 3,872,285 kg/yr. = 3872.285 tons/year.

k= 0.05
Lo= 340 m3 CH4 /t

T= 4years.

t = 2 years

G= 3872.285 * 340 * 0.05 * 𝑒^(−0.05(4 − 2)) = 59,564.40214 m3 CH4.

Gas produced= 59,564.40214 m3 CH4/year.

(vi) Estimate the soil loss from the landfill after completion and the installation of a cap.

From RUSLE model for central Kenya ,SD Angima,M.K O’nal

R=9520,C=0.35 K=0.016 P =0.7 LS =17

A=9520x 0.016x17x0.35x0.7

=634.42mgh^-1 per year

(vii) Assuming an infiltration rate of 10 cm/year, determine the specifications (drainage layer
thickness and slope, drainage layer hydraulic conductivity, pipe diameter and spacing)
for the collection pipes and drainage system above the landfill liner. Comment on
whether your design is conservative giving supporting reasons.

Design storm =629.6mm=0.00485m/s

hydraulic conductivity =10m/s

Drainage slope assume 2%

Max depth of liner =15m

𝑞 𝑘𝑡𝑎𝑛2 ∝ 𝑘𝑡𝑎𝑛2 ∝
𝑝 = 2𝑦𝑚𝑎𝑥 /( )( +1− (tan ∝ +𝑞/𝑘)
𝑘 𝑞 𝑞
0.00485 0.01(0.02) 0.01(0.02) 0.0024
= 2 ∗ 15/( )( +1− (0.02) + )
0.01 0.0485 0.0485 0.01
= 1428 𝑐𝑚

TEXT & REFERENCES

i. Integrated Solid Waste Management, 2nded., George Tchobanoglous, Hilary
Theisen and Samuel Vigil, 1993, McGraw-Hill (R1):
ii. Solid Waste Technology and Management Vol 1 & 2 Thomas Christensen, ed.,
2011, Wiley (R3):
iii. Solid Waste Engineering, 2nded., William Worrell, P. Aarne Vesilind, 2012,
Cengage Learning (R3):
iv. Solid Waste Management: Critical Issues for Developing Countries. Elizabeth
Thomas-Hope, 1995, International Conference on Solid Waste Management