PROPOSED LEACHATE TREATMENT
FOR THE ADAMS MINE

1. EQUALIZATION TANK:

THE LEACHATE WILL SIT IN A 1200 M3 GLASS LINED STEEL TANK FOR ONE DAY TO "EQUALIZE" LEACHATE, IE.EVEN OUT THE PEAKS IN CONTAMINANT LOADS, SO MAKE ALL THE LEACHATE SIMILARLY TOXIC.

2. PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL TREATMENT

THE LEACHATE WILL SPEND 6 MINUTES IN A 5 M3 TANK WHERE A CAUSTIC, A PLYMER AND FLOCCULANTS WILL BE ADDED, AND THEN IT WILL GO TO A FLOCCULATION TANK FOR 24 MINUTES. THERE MAY BE ANOTHER STEP TO ADD SULPHURIC ACID TO THE EFFLUENT TO ADJUST THE PH. THE PURPOSE OF THESE TWO STEPS ARE TO REMOVE SOME OF THE IRON AND HEAVY METALS.

3. NUTRIENT AND METHANOL ADDITION

THIS STEP IS SUPPOSED TO ADJUST THE PH AND NUTRIENTS IN THE LEACHATE, BY ADDING PHOSPHERIC ACID, UREA AND METHANOL.

4. BIOLOGICAL TREAMENT

A POWDERED ACTIVATED CARBON TREATMENT (PACT) IS THE "BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT," HOW IT ACTUALLY WORKS IS PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. IT'S THE BIG TICKET ITEM IN THE TREATMENT SYSTEM.

5. POLISHING

THE POLISHING STAGE OF THE PROCESS MAY INCLUDE ADDITIONAL TREATMENTS, LIKE FILTRATION TO REMOVE SOLIDS. IT MAY INCLUDE ADDITIONAL REMOVAL OF SOLIDS OR ULTRAVIOLET DISINFECTION.

IN THE TERMS OF HAZARDOUS CONTENTS IN WASTE GOING TO LANDFILL, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT ONLY RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE IS SUPPOSED TO GO TO THIS SITE. REALISTICALLY IT WOULD PROBABLY BE EVERYTHING. ENVIRONMENT CANADA SAYS THAT IN ONTARIO 6.8KG OF HH2 ARE FOR EACH PERSON EACH YEAR. ALMOST OF ALL THIS GOES INTO LANDFILLS. VERY LITTLE GOES TO HH2 COLLECTION PROGRAMMES-APPROXIMATELY 10%.

THE MAIN TYPES OF HAZARDOUS WASTES THAT ARE IN HOUSEHOLD WASTE ARE PAINT, HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS AND BATTERIES. BATTERIES, FOR EXAMPLE CONTAIN MERCURY, CADMIUM, NICKLE. ONE LITRE OF USED OIL CAN CONTAMINATE UP TO ONE MILLION LITRES OF WATER.

FOR THE MUNICIPALITES THAT WILL BRING MORE THAN RESIDENTIAL GARBAGE, ACCORDING TO PROVINCIAL REGULATIONS, EACH INDUSTRY OR BUSINESS CAN QUITE LEGALLY PUT 5KILOGRAMS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE INTO THE MUNICIPAL LANDFILL EACH YEAR. THIS CAN ADD UP TO A LOT OF HAZARDOUS MATERIAL.

SECOND, REGARDING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS IN LEACHATE. THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE TO BE PRECISE ABOUT, SO SOME BASIC STATEMENTS:
"COMMONLY FOUND ORGANIC CONTAMINATES IN MUNICIPAL LANDFILL LEACHATE PLUMES: BENZENE, TOLUENE, ETHYLBENZENE, XYLENE, NAPTHALENE, CHLORINATED CHLOROFORM, PHENAL, CARBOXYLIC ACIDS.

ALSO THERE HAS BEEN DISCUSSION OF FIRES AT THE DUMP. THESE ARE COMMON AT ALL LANDFILLS. RECENT STUDIES FROM SWEDEN SHOW THAT DIOXINS, FURANS AND PCB'S ARE EMITTED AT HIGH LEVELS DURING SUCH FIRES AT MUNICIPAL LANDFILLS. THE LEVELS OF DIOXINS AND FURANS AT THE TIME OF A FIRE EXCEEDED "THE LIMIT VALUE FOR WASTE INCINERATION PLANTS IN MANY EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.