Section 210. Leachate control

A. Design plan. The design plan shall provide for leachate management. This design plan shall include the following:

1. An estimate of the quality and quantity of leachate to be produced annually by the facility. The estimate shall include the 30-day leachate volume and average flow rate of each month of the year. A separate estimate shall be submitted for anticipated leachate generation at the end of five year increments of operation for 20 years, or until closure, whichever date is earlier. For existing facilities, current leachate generation shall be included with this separate estimate.

2. The leachate collection system shall be designed and constructed to maintain less than a 30 cm depth of leachate over the liner, excluding manifold trenches and sumps.

3. Plans, designs, and cross sections for the proposed collection and handling system.

4. Plans, designs, and cross sections for onsite leachate storage or treatment systems, including system appurtenances for storage, pretreatment, or treatment of leachate from the facility.

B. Tanks and surface impoundments used for storage of leachate shall have a flow equalization and surge capacity at least equal to the maximum expected production of leachate for any seven-day period for the life of the facility estimated under subdivision A 1 of this section. Leachate storage capacity may not be considered to include leachate that may have collected in or on the liner system. Storage tanks and impoundments shall be aerated, as necessary, to prevent and control odors.

C. Surface impoundments used for storage of leachate shall be equipped with a liner system that shall provide equal or greater protection of human health and the environment than that provided by the liner of the landfill producing the leachate.

D. The collected leachate shall be:

1. Discharged directly or after pretreatment into a line leading to the publicly owned treatment works or other permitted wastewater treatment facility;

2. Transported by a vehicle to an offsite permitted wastewater treatment facility;

3. Recirculated within the landfill, provided that the irrigated area is underlain by a composite liner or other liner system approved by EPA or Research, Development, and Demonstration plan for recirculation, and that the operation causes no runoff, ponding, or nuisance odors;

4. Treated onsite and discharged into surface water when authorized under VPDES permit; or

5. Other methods of treatment or disposal as approved by the department.

E. The collected leachate shall not be discharged to an underground drain field.

F. Leachate seeps. If a leachate seep(s) occurs, the owner or operator shall repair the seep(s) and do the following:

1. Take all immediate steps necessary to protect public health and safety including those required by the contingency plan.

2. Take immediate action to minimize, control, or eliminate the seep, and to contain and properly manage the leachate at the source of the seep.

3. Any leachate released outside the lined area permitted for waste disposal shall be properly collected and disposed.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 27, Issue 12, eff. March 16, 2011.

Statutory Authority

§ 10.1-1402 of the Code of Virginia; 42 USC § 6941 et seq.; 40 CFR Part 258.