2018-2021: PFAS CONCENTRATIONS IN LANDFILL LEACHATE IN VICTORIA

https://www.wmrr.asn.au/common/Uploaded%20files/ALTS/2021/Nick%20Simmons.pdf

Conclusions
• Leachate contribution to PFAS mass in WWTP’s appears minor at this stage
• The calculated mass to sewer per site was not multiplied by all landfills in Victoria (approx. 65) to inform the estimated total mass to sewer as;
• Many do not discharge leachate to sewer
• Doing so would not be representative of reality as the discharge volume is the variable that affects the mass contribution the most.
• The estimated PFAS mass to sewer from the 10 sites in the study that discharge leachate is considered reasonably representative of the statewide mass as;
• The 5 largest landfills in the state were in the 10 discharging sites
• The 5 largest landfills also had the greatest leachate discharge volumes to sewer compared to all others – by an order of magnitude
• Site inspections indicate in the rest of the state, leachate discharges are significantly less than these 5 largest sites.