Transcript Water Issues - Caldwell County

130 Environmental Park Landfill
Effect on Ground Water
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Location
Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer recharge zone
100 Year Flood Zone
Flawed Technology
– Leachate Generation
– Transport Mechanism
• Health Risks
• Conclusion
Landfill Location
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US EPA Subtitle D location criteria – Landfills should not be located:
– in a floodplain
• Part of the property is in the 100 year flood plain
– within 200 ft of a fault
• We have been told by hydrogologist that there is a fault right under the site. (Need
study)
– in a geological unstable are
• Clay is unstable in the area (water pipes pull apart, Exxon gas station foundation
cracking)
– in a wetland
• Wetlands near by (Toll Rd 130 built long bridge over wetland near by)
– in a seismic impact zone
• Need to be studied
– near an airport runway
• 22 miles from Austin-Bergstrom Airport
Source: http://www.gfredlee.com/Landfills/Checklist_LF_Issues.pdf
Carrizo-Wilcox Recharge Zone
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The 1200 acre
property proposed
for the proposed
Caldwell County
Landfill (130
Environmental
Park) has a portion
of the property that
is in the CarrizoWilcox aquifer
recharge zone.
Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer (2)
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The groundwater pumped from the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer is used primarily
for municipal public water supply, rural domestic use, and manufacturing in
approximately 60 counties in Texas. Approximately 35 percent of the total
groundwater removed from the aquifer is for municipal water supply. The
aquifer provides water to ten to twelve million people (National Wildlife
Federation et al, 2006)
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Groundwater in Caldwell County remains the primary source of potable
water. Most water utilities have wells that pump water from local aquifers.
The groundwater of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer in Texas is one of the
greatest assets of the East-Central region of Texas. It provides water for
agriculture, industry, and human consumption and use.
Over-pumping has caused major declines in some areas, and with an
increasing population pollution becomes more of an issue.
Now and in the future, the aquifer needs to be carefully monitored,
managed, and protected so it can provide millions of people the water they
need to survive.
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Source feather wilson,scott jones
Caldwell County Flood Plain
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The 1200 acre
property proposed for
the Caldwell County
Landfill has a portion
of the property that is
in the 100 year flood
plain
Flawed Technology
(Leachate Generation)
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Frequently in review of a proposed landfill, the regulatory agency staff does not
adequately or reliably evaluate the potential for a proposed landfill to endanger public
health, safety and the environment.
Landfills have the potential to generate leachate (garbage juice) that will pollute
groundwater with hazardous and deteriorating chemicals that are a threat to human
health and the environment for hundreds of years.
The very best landfill liners today are made of a tough plastic film called high density
polyethylene (HDPE). A number of household chemicals will degrade HDPE,
permeating it (passing though it), making it lose its strength, softening it, or making it
become brittle and crack.
Not only will household chemicals, such as moth balls, degrade HDPE, but much
more benign things can cause it to develop stress cracks, such as, margarine,
vinegar, ethyl alcohol (booze), shoe polish, peppermint oil, to name a few.
Source: (1) Dr Fred Lee (2) (Environmental Research Foundation, Annapolis, MD
Flawed Technology
(Transport Mechanism)
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A key issue of concern with respect to the potential for a landfill to pollute
groundwaters is whether the landfill is sited where there are groundwaters
hydraulically connected to the base of the landfill that could be used in the
infinite future for domestic water supply purposes.
Haxo and Lahey (1988) have discussed the transport of organic solvents
through intact (without holes) flexible membrane liners. This process is
described as "permeation" where the solvents dissolve into the plastic liner
material and exit the liner material on the downgradient side
(outside the landfill). Sakti et al. (1991) have provided information on the
rate of penetration of HDPE geomembrane liners by a variety of dilute
aqueous solutions of organic solvents.
Common organic solvents that are often disposed of as wastes in landfills
can quickly pass through an HDPE liner. This is of particular importance
since these chemicals are significant threats to groundwater pollution
through their high mobility, persistence and potential to cause cancer in
those using domestic water supplies containing these solvent
Source: http://www.gfredlee.com/Groundwater/lfgwthrt.pdf
Health Risks Linked to Landfills
• Studies have shown possible increased risks of certain types of
cancer, including bladder, brain and leukemia, among people who
live near landfills.
• Further, a study by researchers at the London School of Hygiene
and Tropical Medicine also found that babies born to mothers who
live near landfills have a greater risk of birth defects.
• A recent study found that living near a landfill could expose
residents to chemicals that can reduce immune system function and
lead to an increased risk of infections.
As opposed to children living in clean areas, the study found that
"children living near to waste sites, whether landfills or contaminated
bodies of water, are hospitalized more frequently with acute
respiratory infections, said Dr. David O. Carpenter, director of the
Institute for Health and the Environment, at the State University of
New York at Albany. Children living near waste sites also had
increased rates of hospitalization for asthma.
• Sources EPA: Municipal Solid Waste, Reuters September8, 2008,
Rachel’s Democracy and Health
Conclusion
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The groundwater of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer in Texas is one of the greatest assets
of the East-Central region of Texas. It provides water for agriculture, industry, and
human consumption and use.
Over-pumping has caused major declines in some areas, and with an increasing
population pollution becomes more of an issue. Now and in the future, the aquifer
needs to be carefully monitored, managed, and protected so it can provide millions of
people the water they need to survive.
Placement of a landfill at a location in near proximity to the aquifer recharge zone and
floodplains leads to unacceptable risks concerning groundwater contamination
There are experts in the field that question the reliability of landfill liner technology
and indicate that liners not only fail mechanically due to puncture or ground
movement, they also fail due to permeation and penetration of common organic
solvents.
This landfill is a forever proposition. Do we really want to take the risks to current and
future generations given all the risk factors presented? It is easier to prevent a
disaster than to suffer the consequences.
Source: Feathergail Wilson, Professional Geologist. Mr. Wilson also provided valuable details
and information regarding the groundwater resources in the region.
Source: SG. Fred Lee, PhD, PE, BCEE, F.ASCE and Anne Jones-Lee, PhDG. Fred
Lee & Associates