Study on calculating leachate from landfill by HELP model

Abstract

In this paper, the authors will present the results of research on HELP model (Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance), this is the U.S. model used to compute the amount of leachate generated from a landfill on the basis of water balance. Based on the HELP model, the authors have developed number of layers as well as have improved the interface of HELP. The HELP model after advanced can be called HELP 3.07vn model. New model is able to run in the popular operating system today such as Win XP, Win 7 and is also used to computing for the landfills having many layers which is popular in VietNam. Besides, this paper will present the predicted results for computing the leachate from a landfill in Ho Chi Minh city, (Go Cat landfill). This is the sanitary landfill with new technique but all wastes weren't going through the classification process and handling before being buried. Computing a future scenario for a period of 20 years (from 2010 to 2030) after received the good results from validation and calibration steps with measured data, the results show that the leachate will be stopped between 2018 and 2022 for initial moisture changes be 50% to 60%. Hence, handing waste before buring is an important process to reduce the cost disposing for landfill. In addition to this, HELP 3.07vn model will be an useful and effective tool to serve designing the new landfill in VietNam.