Randolph - 88 acres, partially lined
Plainville - 73 acres, lined
BFI Fall River - 70 acres, partially lined
Peabody NESWC - 74 acres, partially lined
GCR Landfill Peabody - 23 acres, lined
Greenfield Municipal Landfill - 23 acres, partially lined
These landfills were selected based upon the broad spectrum of waste that was accepted at each facility and the amount of data that was available at the Boston office at this time of the study. The data reviewed included sampling of groundwater monitoring wells, surface water, private wells and leachate samples. One round of soil sampling (Randolph) and one round of landfill leachate seeps (Greenfield) were also examined. Data from this analysis is summarized below and examples of the actual data are attached; the complete data set can be obtained from the MADEP Division of Solid Waste Management.
The majority of the samples were analyzed for dissolved mercury using EPA Method 245.1 Cold Vapor Technique. Out of 53 sampling rounds and 592 individual samples there were a total of seven (7) exceedances of the MCL for mercury (0.002 mg/l). Five of the exceedances were found at the Plainville Landfill and two were found at the Peabody NESWC Landfill. The vast majority of samples showed that mercury contents were below the detection limits of the methods of analyses used.
At the Plainville Landfill, all the exceedances of the MCL were detected in leachate samples which are collected by the landfills groundwater protection system; none were detected in groundwater. The values reported as exceedances of the MCL for mercury at the Plainville Landfill ranged between 0.003 mg/l and 0.2 mg/l.
At the Peabody Landfill, one exceedance of the MCL was detected in six samples collected from a groundwater diversion manhole (0.003 mg/l). The other exceedance was detected in one of seventeen samples from private wells near the landfill. The private well showing the exceedance (0.006 mg/l) is located cross-gradient from the landfill and it is unlikely that the mercury in the well can be attributed to contamination from the landfill. Sampling of six other private wells in the same general area showed that the mercury content was below the detection limits for the testing method used. However, the analysis for samples from private wells near the Peabody Landfill in 1988 had a detection limit of 0.005 mg/l, which is above the MCL for mercury. Therefore, mercury levels above the MCL of 0.002 mg/l but below the detection limit 0.005 mg/l could not be discerned.
Based on the limited data reviewed for these facilities, it is clear that mercury is capable of being leached from municipal solid waste (e.g. Plainville leachate data). However, the groundwater data shows no indication that mercury has moved beyond site boundaries at the landfills examined. Future contamination of groundwater, especially at unlined landfills may occur.
EXAMPLE OF RESULTS OF TWO LANDFILLS ASSESSED
Abbreviations used in this section:
RANDOLPH:
88 Acre partially lined facility
13 Rounds of sampling
Source: Hydrogeologic Report, August 1987 by GZA
Randolph, October 1986
Method of Analysis - 245.1/7470 (Manual Cold Vapor Technique)
Source does not state if Dissolved or Total Mercury
5 Groundwater samples ND
Source: ISA & CSA/SOW, October 1992 by GZA
Randolph, October 1990
Sources does not state Method of Analysis
Dissolved Mercury
15 Groundwater samples 3 <0.0004mg/l 12 <0.0002mg/l 2 Drainage ditch samples <0.004mg/l * 2 Leachate Ponds <0.0002mg/l 2 Surface water samples - Pequid Brook <0.0002mg/l
Source: ISA & CSA/SOW, October 1992 by GZA
Randolph, January 1991
Sources does not state Method of Analysis
Dissolved Mercury 12 Groundwater samples <0.0002mg/l 2 Leachate Ponds <0.0002mg/l 2 Surface water samples - Pequid Brook <0.0002mg/l
Source: ISA & CSA/SOW, October 1992 by GZA
Randolph, April 1991
Sources does not state Method of Analysis
Dissolved Mercury 14 Groundwater samples 1 <0.002mg/l 13 <0.0002mg/l 2 Drainage ditch samples <0.0002mg/l 2 Leachate Ponds <0.0002mg/l 2 Surface water samples - Pequid Brook <0.0002mg/l
Source: ISA & CSA/SOW, October 1992 by GZA
Randolph, July 1991
Method of Analysis - 245.1/7470 (Manual Cold Vapor Technique)
Dissolved Mercury 14 Groundwater samples <0.0002mg/l 2 Drainage ditch samples <0.0002mg/l 2 Leachate Ponds <0.0002mg/l 2 Surface water samples - Pequid Brook <0.0002mg/l
Source: ISA & CSA/SOW, October 1992 by GZA
Randolph, October 1991
Method of Analysis - 245.1/7470 (Manual Cold Vapor Technique)
Dissolved Mercury 15 Groundwater samples 1 <0.00021mg/l 14 <0.0002mg/l 2 Drainage ditch samples <0.0002mg/l 2 Leachate Ponds <0.0002mg/l 2 Surface water samples - Pequid Brook <0.0002mg/l
Source: ISA & CSA/SOW, October 1992 by GZA
Randolph, January 1992
Method of Analysis - Manual Cold Vapor Technique
Dissolved Mercury 14 Groundwater samples <0.0002mg/l 2 Drainage ditch samples <0.0002mg/l 2 Leachate Ponds <0.0002mg/l 2 Surface water samples - Pequid Brook <0.0002mg/l
Source: ISA & CSA/SOW, October 1992 by GZA
Randolph, April 1992
Method of Analysis - Manual Cold Vapor Technique
Dissolved Mercury 14 Groundwater samples <0.0002mg/l 2 Drainage ditch samples <0.0002mg/l 2 Leachate Ponds <0.0002mg/l 2 Surface water samples - Pequid Brook <0.0002mg/l
Source: ISA & CSA/SOW, October 1992 by GZA
Randolph, July 1992
Sources does not state Method of Analysis
Dissolved Mercury 15 Groundwater samples <0.0002mg/l 2 Drainage ditch samples <0.0002mg/l 2 Leachate Ponds <0.0002mg/l 2 Surface water samples - Pequid Brook <0.0002mg/l
Source: Volume 2 Draft CSA, December 1993 by GZA
Randolph, January 1993
Method of Analysis - 245.1/7470 (Cold Vapor AA Spectroscopy)
Dissolved Mercury 16 Groundwater samples 2 0.0004mg/l 14 0.0001mg/l 2 Surface water samples - Pequid Brook 0.0001mg/l
Source: Volume 2 Draft CSA, December 1993 by GZA
Randolph, April 1993
Method of Analysis - 245.1/7470 (Cold Vapor AA Spectroscopy)
Dissolved Mercury 16 Groundwater samples 15 0.0001mg/l 1 0.00047mg/l 2 Surface water samples - Pequid Brook 0.0001mg/l
Source: Volume 2 Draft CSA, December 1993 by GZA
Randolph, July 1993
Method of Analysis - 245.1/7470 (Cold Vapor AA Spectroscopy)
Dissolved Mercury 14 Groundwater samples 0.0001mg/l 2 Surface water samples - Pequid Brook 0.0001mg/l
Source: Volume 2 Draft CSA, December 1993 by GZA
Randolph, September 1993
Method of Analysis - 245.1/7470 (Cold Vapor AA Spectroscopy)
Dissolved Mercury 19 Groundwater samples 0.0001mg/l 1 Drainage ditch sample 0.0001mg/l 2 Surface water samples - Pequid Brook 0.0001mg/l 3 Soil samples (marshland downgradient) 0.47mg/kg <0.14mg/kg <0.16mg/kg
PLAINVILLE:
73 Acre lined facility
15 Rounds of sampling
Source: Hydrogeologic Investigation, October 1990 by Golder Associates
Plainville, June 1981
Source does not state Method of Analysis
Dissolved Mercury 2 Leachate samples 1 ND 1 0.2mg/l exceedence
Source: Hydrogeologic Investigation, October 1990 by Golder Associates
Plainville, October 1982
Source does not state Method of Analysis
Dissolved Mercury 1 Leachate sample <0.005mg/l *
Source: Hydrogeologic Investigation, October 1990 by Golder Associates
Plainville, June 1984
Source does not state Method of Analysis
Dissolved Mercury 1 Leachate sample ND
Source: Hydrogeologic Investigation, October 1990 by Golder Associates
Plainville, May 1985
Source does not state Method of Analysis
Dissolved Mercury 1 Leachate sample 0.05mg/l exceedance
Source: Hydrogeologic Investigation, October 1990 by Golder Associates
Plainville, June 1986
Source does not state Method of Analysis
Dissolved Mercury 1 Leachate sample 0.004mg/l exceedance
Source: Hydrogeologic Investigation, October 1990 by Golder Associates
Plainville, January 1987
Source does not state Method of Analysis
Dissolved Mercury 4 Leachate samples <0.001mg/l <0.001mg/l 0.003mg/l exceedance 0.003mg/l exceedance
Source: Hydrogeologic Investigation, October 1990 by Golder Associates
Plainville, April 1987
Source does not state Method of Analysis
Dissolved Mercury 3 Leachate samples ND <0.001mg/l <0.001mg/l
Source: Hydrogeologic Investigation, October 1990 by Golder Associates
Plainville, March 1988
Source does not state Method of Analysis
Dissolved Mercury 2 Leachate samples <0.001mg/l <0.001mg/l
Source: Hydrogeologic Investigation, October 1990 by Golder Associates
Plainville, June 1988
Source does not state Method of Analysis
Dissolved Mercury 2 Leachate samples ND <0.001mg/l
Source: Hydrogeologic Investigation, October 1990 by Golder Associates
Plainville, Fall 1988
Source does not state Method of Analysis
Dissolved Mercury 27 Groundwater samples ND 3 Leachate samples ND 7 Surface water samples ND
Source: Hydrogeologic Investigation, October 1990 by Golder Associates
Plainville, December 1988
Source does not state Method of Analysis
Dissolved Mercury 2 Leachate samples <0.001mg/l
Source: Hydrogeologic Investigation, October 1990 by Golder Associates
Plainville, March 1989
Method of Analysis - EPA Method 245.1
Dissolved Mercury 2 Leachate samples <0.001mg/l
Source: Hydrogeologic Investigation, October 1990 by Golder Associates
Plainville, June 1989
Method of Analysis - EPA Method 245.1
Dissolved Mercury 2 Leachate samples ND <0.001mg/l
Source: Hydrogeologic Investigation, October 1990 by Golder Associates
Plainville, September 1989
Method of Analysis - EPA Method 245.1
Dissolved Mercury 2 Leachate samples <0.001mg/l
Source: Hydrogeologic Investigation, October 1990 by Golder Associates
Plainville, December 1989
Method of Analysis - EPA Method 245.1
Dissolved Mercury 36 Groundwater samples 35 ND 1 0.001mg/l 3 Leachate samples 1 ND 2 <0.001mg/l 4 Surface water samples ND
Source: Hydrogeologic Investigation, October 1990 by Golder Associates
Plainville, March 1990
Did not test for Mercury
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