Is a landfill polluting ground or surface waters? CEDS was recently asked to answer this question by those living near a municipal landfill in our home state of Maryland. In the past answering this question would have entailed expensive monitoring. Based upon literally decades of aquatic resource protection experience, CEDS president Richard Klein came up with an inexpensive screening method using conductivity; a measure of the rate that electricity is conducted in water.

With a $45 handheld meter we determined that conductivity levels in a stream draining the landfill were four times higher than that deemed safe. By reviewing the monitoring reports all landfills must file with State environmental protection agencies, CEDS compiled  compelling evidence that the elevated conductivity was likely due to leakage from the liner system that was supposed to keep highly-contaminated leachate from reaching ground or surface waters.

If you wish to discuss how similar low-cost, yet reliable techniques may be applied to a landfill in your area, contact Richard Klein at 410-654-3021 or Help@ceds.org. Also, visit the CEDS Protecting Neighborhoods & the Environment from Landfills webpage at: https://ceds.org/landfill/.