Toshiro Oshikata*, Tohru Furuichi**, Masaru Tanaka*** and Masataka Hanashima****

* Fukuoka University, Graduate Student
** University of Osaka Prefecture, College of Engineering
*** The Institute of Public Health, Waste Engineering Dept.
**** Fukuoka University, Faculty of Engineering

+ Correspondence should be addressed to Toshiro Oshikata:
(8-19-1, Nanakuma, Jyonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-01 Japan)

Abstract

Prevention of leachate seepage is one of the major functions of a controlled landfill site. Damage, particularly of the seepage control sheet, is often feared. This paper is about one of the monitoring systems which electrically checks the performance of the seepage control sheet, and whether it is properly maintained. The authors became involved in development of an electricity-based detection system because seepage control sheets have high electric insulation. The study showed that when a certain value of voltage is applied inside and outside the landfill site, measurement of a resultant distorted distribution of potential on the sheet enables detection of whether the sheet is damaged or not, when it was damaged, and where. It is also concluded through experiments that this arrangement can be implemented as a technology to monitor the condition of seepage control sheets in landfill disposal sites.

Key words: controlled landfill site, seepage control sheet, detection system for rupture, monitoring leakage, electrical potential distribution