Landfill Engineering Calculator
Water Balance Method
Lg = P - E - R - ΔS
Leachate (Lg): 200.0 mm/yr
What is this for?
This equation estimates the amount of leachate a landfill will produce. Leachate is contaminated water that must be collected and treated. Understanding its volume is critical for designing liner and collection systems.
What to look for: A lower `Lg` value is better, as it means less contaminated water to manage. High `Lg` values indicate a need for a more robust collection and treatment system.
Lg: Leachate Generation - The amount of contaminated water draining from the landfill.
P: Precipitation - Total rainfall on the site.
E: Evapotranspiration - Water lost to the atmosphere from soil and plants.
R: Runoff - Water that flows over the surface instead of infiltrating.
ΔS: Change in Storage - Water absorbed and held by the waste material.