Archived
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Location
Lexington, Kentucky
Start Date
5-5-2026 2:00 PM
End Date
5-5-2026 2:30 PM
Description
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELG) that govern liquids discharged from energy production facilities. According to the ELG, energy production facilities that burn coal beyond December 31, 2034 must convert to a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) system by December 31, 2029*. This presentation focuses on one coal-burning facility’s strategy to meet ZLD requirements. The predominant source of liquid that will be treated by the proposed ZLD system is leachate from an active coal combustion residual (CCR) landfill. Is the ZLD’s design capacity suitable for average leachate flow conditions? Is there enough leachate storage volume to manage storm surge conditions? Multi-million dollar decisions regarding ZLD technology and leachate storage capacity hang in the balance. Answers to these thorny questions were developed by creating a predictive model to estimate leachate quantity from two leachate generation mechanisms: percolation through the waste mass, and surface water runoff that is routed to the leachate collection and removal system (LCRS). The predictive model was calibrated by comparing estimated leachate volume to measured leachate volume for six recorded events. Next, the landfill grades, stormwater management, and operational conditions were reviewed to identify leachate reduction opportunities. Five measures to reduce leachate were identified. The predictive model was used to estimate the leachate reduction for each of the five measures. The leachate reduction volume and implementation timeframe provide a roadmap for achieving ZLD compliance by the regulatory deadline. *The ZLD implementation deadline might get extended to December 31, 2034 if a proposed change to the ELG is approved.
Document Type
Presentation
Archival?
Archival
Included in
Energy Systems Commons, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Mining Engineering Commons, Oil, Gas, and Energy Commons, Structural Materials Commons, Sustainability Commons
Leachate Quantification and Reduction – One Facility’s Path to ZLD
Lexington, Kentucky
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELG) that govern liquids discharged from energy production facilities. According to the ELG, energy production facilities that burn coal beyond December 31, 2034 must convert to a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) system by December 31, 2029*. This presentation focuses on one coal-burning facility’s strategy to meet ZLD requirements. The predominant source of liquid that will be treated by the proposed ZLD system is leachate from an active coal combustion residual (CCR) landfill. Is the ZLD’s design capacity suitable for average leachate flow conditions? Is there enough leachate storage volume to manage storm surge conditions? Multi-million dollar decisions regarding ZLD technology and leachate storage capacity hang in the balance. Answers to these thorny questions were developed by creating a predictive model to estimate leachate quantity from two leachate generation mechanisms: percolation through the waste mass, and surface water runoff that is routed to the leachate collection and removal system (LCRS). The predictive model was calibrated by comparing estimated leachate volume to measured leachate volume for six recorded events. Next, the landfill grades, stormwater management, and operational conditions were reviewed to identify leachate reduction opportunities. Five measures to reduce leachate were identified. The predictive model was used to estimate the leachate reduction for each of the five measures. The leachate reduction volume and implementation timeframe provide a roadmap for achieving ZLD compliance by the regulatory deadline. *The ZLD implementation deadline might get extended to December 31, 2034 if a proposed change to the ELG is approved.
