Electricity, Groundwater Flow and Leak Detection in Landfill Liners

 Electricity, Groundwater Flow and Leak Detection in Landfill
Liners




An Environmental Geology Laboratory Developed by:

Dr. Gregg Bluth, Michigan Technological University






Objectives
	Demonstrate and learn about the similar properties of
electrical and fluid flow.

	Analyze systematic measurements and learn how to draw contour
lines and flow paths.

	Apply the above techniques to an environmental geology problem
- that of locating landfill liner leaks quickly and efficiently
through geophysical analysis.

Introduction 
	This laboratory was originally designed for an introductory
environmental geology course.  Waste management, pollution
prevention systems, and groundwater systems are all interrelated,
and so this laboratory would fit with any one of these topics. 
The main focus of this lab is to demonstrate how basic science
principles, for example electrical flow, can be adapted to study
natural systems and thereby provide valuable and unique
information.  Ideally, this lab would form part of a unit
including theory (text and lecture), laboratory (modeling
experiments), and field observation (trip to landfill).

	Landfills are designed to contain manmade waste products and
isolate them from the environment.  They are typically
constructed with a layer of some type of synthetic membrane or
lining under its base.  This is a technically difficult process
to install and most landfill systems develop leaks resulting from
incomplete seams on the liner and weaknesses in the liner itself. 
Once the landfill is in use, the liner can also become damaged
from loading and settling.  If the leakage is severe, the liner
must be repaired.  The problem is, how to find the leak?  A

Introduction.....................................................................................pg 1

Part I: The Voltmeter......................................................................pg 2

Part II: Properties of an Electrical Circuit .....................................pg3

Part III: Landfill Leak Testing .......................................................pg5

Part IV: Analyzing the Data ...........................................................pg 6

Lab Equipment Kit List.................. ................................................pg 9

Answers............................. .............................................................pg 10

Figures