Retardation of Dredged Material Leachate in Foundation Soils

Abstract

Contaminated dredged material is often placed in confined disposal facilities (CDFs) designed and managed to control environmental impacts of the disposed sediment. This note presents equations for use in a screening procedure to evaluate the impact of a CDF on groundwater. The hydrologic evaluation of leachate production and quality model was used to simulate leachate production and transport through the foundation considering a range of foundation soil characteristics and contaminant properties. The model results were used to develop predictive equations of contaminant attenuation and travel time in the foundation soils. When used with equations to predict dispersion in the aquifer, contaminant exposures at receptor locations can be predicted, which is essential in leachate screening applications. The approach does not consider degradation or permanent sequestration of contaminants. Therefore, the procedure is conservative in that it may overestimate actual leachate concentrations and underestimate actual travel times.