2. Leachate collection and treatment

The "water" issue at storage facilities is a major concern for site development and operation. Water is the main vector for the migration of stored pollutants (groundwater and surface water). Managing water, and therefore leachates, involves both preventing the production of pollution and eliminating the pollution it induces.

The flows generated by landfills vary considerably according to the different classes of landfill. In the case of Class I landfills, the requirement for stabilization prior to storage of predominantly mineral industrial waste entails a risk of very low leachate production, given the low permeability of the stabilized material itself (K = 10 ^–11 m/s), and a quality composed essentially of salts and metals in low concentrations.

As far as Class III facilities are concerned,...