LEACHATE TREATMENT REPORT

Autonomous Republic of Ajara, Georgia

Ajara Solid Waste Management Project

Support to the Project Implementation Unit, Engineering Design Services and Contract
Supervision
State Procurement N 272

ASSIGNMENT NUMBER 1989230000

BILD IN

Stockholm 2014-05-13

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 Leachate Treatment Report

Ministry of Finance and Economy of the

Client:
Autonomous Republic of Ajara

Consulting Services for Ajara Solid Waste

Management Project; Support to the
Project: Project Implementation Unit, Engineering
Design Services and Construction
Supervision, State Procurement N 272
Title: Leachate Treatment Report
SWECO Project No: 1989230000

17 March 2014
Date:
Revised 13 May 2014
Consultant: Sweco International AB, Sweden (lead)

Dr Stig Morling, Leachate Treatment

Expert, Sweco
Authors: Laszlo Iritz, Project Manager, Sweco
Towe Ireblad, SWM and Landfill Expert,
Sweco

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 List of Abbreviations

Administrative abbreviations

EBRD European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

ESIA Environmental and Social Impact Analysis
SWM Solid Waste Management

Technical abbreviations

AOR Actual Oxygen Requirement

BOD5 Biochemical Oxygen Demand. BOD is a measure of how much
dissolved oxygen that is consumed in the water during a specified
period (in this case 5 days).
BOD7 Biochemical Oxygen Demand. BOD is a measure of how much
dissolved oxygen that is consumed in the water during a specified
period (in this case 7 days).
COD Chemical Oxygen Demand is a measure of the total content of
oxygen-consuming substances in the water.
DPMC Dual Power Multi Cellular (Aerated Lagoon)
NH4-N Ammonia nitrogen
NO3-N Nitrate nitrogen
pH A measure of the water content of free hydrogen ions (H +), or
popularly expressed water acidity. The lower the pH the more acidic
the water is.
Qdim Process design flow for the treatment plant.
SOR/SOTR Standard Oxygen Requirement/Transfer Rate
SS Suspended Solids
Total-N Total Nitrogen in the water. Summarizes the various forms of the
nitrogen
Total-P Total phosphorus. Summarizes the various forms of the phosphorus
VSS Volatile Suspended Solids

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 Table of Contents

Summary

1 Introduction 7

2 Design conditions 8

3 Considerations of appropriate treatment technologies 14

4 Presentation of the adopted technology 19

5 Reference list 27

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 Summary

For the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, Georgia an updated technical feasibility study
has been performed regarding the treatment facility for leachate connected to the Adjara
Solid Waste Management Project. This report is an update and revision of earlier studies
regarding a suitable treatment model for the leachate.

The study has incorporated the earlier discussions regarding a reasonable treatment
model taking into account both the long-term needs for an acceptable discharge quality of
treated leachate and a model that is feasible with respect to operation and maintenance.

The earlier outlines of leachate generation have been retained as well as the initial
assumptions on the crude leachate pollution content. Some alterations have been done in
order to reflect the change in leachate generation and in quality over time.

The anticipated amounts and composition of the leachate generated at the site is
presented in Table 0.1:

Table 0.1 Estimated pollution loads in leachate from Tsetskhlauri, Adjara sanitary landfill
Variable Unit Short term Long term

Phase acidic methane

Estimated duration Years < 2.5 < 100

3
Design flow m /d 200 200

BOD5 kg/d 400 50

COD kg/d 800 300
N-tot kg/d 100 100
NH4-N kg/d 80 90
P-tot kg/d 0.4 0.3

The suggested treatment model for leachate is based on a Dual Power, Multi Cellular
Aerated Lagoon system. The earlier recommended polishing stage based on a
constructed wetland has been kept as a viable part of the treatment chain.

The discharge qualities of the treated leachate have been summarized as follows; see
Table 0.2:

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 Table 0.2 Estimated discharge quality in treated leachate from the Tsetskhlauri, Adjara Sanitary
Landfill
Variable Unit Short term Long term

Phase acidic methane

Phase duration Years <2.0 < 100
3
Design flow m /d 200 200

BOD5 mg/l <5 <5

1)
COD mg/l < 120 < 120
N-tot mg/l < 15 < 15
NH4-N mg/l <2 <2
P-tot mg/l < 0.4 < 0.3

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 1 Introduction
The planned Solid Waste Sanitary Landfill for Tsetskhlauri, Adjara will be designed
according to current principles for modern landfills. This also means that polluted leachate
water will be generated as described further below. Leachate production is mainly caused
by rainfall on the deposited waste surface that percolates through the layers of waste.
The surface of the finally deposited waste will be gradually covered during the operation
of the landfill, to minimize the formation of the leachate, but a certain volume of leachate
will still be obtained, after final covering. The leachate will be collected at the sealed
bottom of the landfill. The polluted water will flow by gravity from the landfill to a leachate
treatment plant for purification, before discharge to the receiving water. In addition to the
leachate, polluted surface water from parts of the waste handling area will be collected
and pass to the leachate treatment.
In this document the relevant design conditions are presented and discussed in chapter
2. This document discusses possible and relevant treatment methods for leachate by
means of biological methods. An important part of the planning work is to evaluate and
select a reliable and suitable treatment model. These questions are discussed in chapter
3. In chapter 4 is found a description of the proposed treatment process along with the
chosen basic design data for the plant. Finally the estimated treatment results are
indicated. This document may serve as one element of tendering conditions in a request
for the procurement of a complete leachate treatment plant.
According to Georgian legislation, the Maximum Permissible Levels (MPL) was calculated
and estimated during spring, 2014, for the unit of Ecological Expertise. The (MPL) project
development and agreement is defined by "Through the technical regulation of the
surface water units along with the waste water the definition of maximum permissible
discharge norms calculation" approved by the Government of Georgia №414 resolution,
31st December, 2013. The maximum permissible level (MPL) in the water units is defined
as maximum mass of polluted substances in discharged waters, so those discharge per
unit of time in the section of water unit is allowed maintaining its current quality.
The maximum permissible level (MPL) for leachate is given in Table 1:
Table 1 Agreed norm of MPL for leachate discharge

Variable Unit Permissible concentration in Tonnes/year

discharged leachate water

Susp. solids mg/l 18,7 8,2

BOD mg/l 15 6,6

COD mg/l 120 52,7

N-tot mg/l 15 6,5

P-tot mg/l 0,4 0,2

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 2 Design conditions
For the situation in Tsetskhlauri, Adjara there is no empirical data on either leachate
amounts, or the leachate composition. This matter is by convention very obvious, as the
sanitary landfill will be built and developed in the next few years. As already stated in
“Site assessment report for the new landfill situated at Tsetskhlauri, Adjara, Georgia”,
dated 2012-07-24” the leachate generation is mainly related to two different features:
 Through rainfall penetrating the landfill;
 Excess water from the deposited refuse.
The third source of water that composes the leachate is ground water penetrating the
landfill. The overall pattern for water balance over a landfill is shown in Figure 1

Figure 1 Principal water balance over a sanitary landfill

The main objective is to as far as possible eliminate the transportation of leachate into the
ground water body. This matter is already dealt with in other parts of the project planning.
This is a preliminary estimation of the leachate amounts that has been presented in the
“Site assessment report for the new landfill situated at Tsetskhlauri, Adjara, Georgia”,
dated 2012-07-24, elaborated by Sweco International AB. The adopted leachate
generation is presented as follows, quote:

“Table 4. Leachate design flow rates.

3
Average Design flow 1 200 m /day
3
Maximum Design flow 2 500 m /day
3
Maximum daily flow 3 1 200 m /day
1. Assuming the average monthly rainfall over 18 days or a 13 mm/day rain event.
2. Assuming the maximum monthly rainfall over 10 days or a 32 mm/day rain event.

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 3. Assuming the annual maximum rainfall (statistical return of 63 y/100 years).”

The climate conditions in the Tsetskhlauri, Adjara area are defined as a “sub-tropical
climate” that in turn means that the coldest month of the year has a prevailing
o
temperature > 0 C. Thus a leachate temperature would be estimated in the low range to
o
be > 5 C. The maximum leachate temperature would be reached in August each year,
o
presumably > 20 C.
The leachate temperature is one of the main ruling design conditions for any biological
treatment.
The third design conditions for a leachate treatment facility are the composition of the
pollutants. As there are no water quality analyses available – by convention - for the
forthcoming landfill a discussion regarding the composition is needed.
First of all it is essential to relate the leachate characteristics to the age of the landfill.
There are three major typical phases to be addressed related to the landfill age. These
phases are by convention related to the climatic conditions. In the following the phases
are related to the local situation in Tsetskhlauri, Adjara.
First phase: Aerobic phase
Duration: Some weeks to a couple of months;
Characterization of landfill leachate: pH ~ 8;
High levels of heavy metals;

Second phase: Acidic (anaerobic) phase

Duration: half a year to a few years
Characterization of landfill leachate: pH ~ 5
High concentration of VFA (Volatile Fatty Acids)
High levels of BOD
Ratio COD/BOD is low: 1.3:1 – 2.0:1
High levels of NH4-N, organic N and PO4-P,
High levels of heavy metals, however successively lowering concentrations by time

Third phase: Methane phase (anaerobic)

Duration: > 50 to more than100 years
Characterization of landfill leachate pH ~ 7

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 Low concentration of VFA
Low levels of BOD
Ratio COD/BOD is high 20:1 – 10:1
High levels of NH4-N;
Moderate to low levels of organic N
Very low levels of PO4-P
Low to very low levels of heavy metals, apart from iron, manganese and zinc

The development of the landfill environment by time may also be illustrated as shown in
Figure 2

Figure 2 Development of leachate quality, pH and redox potential

As a conclusion: The leachate treatment has largely to comply with the conditions during
the methaneogenic phase. The experiences from a number of Swedish landfill sites with
respect to the leachate composition are summarized in Table 2:

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 Table 2 Typical compositions of leachates, from Swedish landfills; see Serti (2000)
Variable Unit Large landfill (old) New landfill Old landfills

Ph 7.2 5–6 8-9

Conductivity mS/m 543 50 – 1,400 50 – 1,400

Alkalinity mekv/l n.a. n.a. n.a.

-
Cl mg/l 920 (5) -1,300 1,000- 6,000

BOD7 mg/l 27 150 – 2,000 10 - 800

COD mg/l 480 1,000 – 30,000 500 – 4,000

Total P mg/l 1.1 < 24 0.1 – 4.0

NH4-N mg/l 240 150 - 560 80 - 370

N-tot mg/l 330 800 100 - 400

Suspended Solids mg/l 5 n.a. n.a.

A rather “normal” prejudice regarding the heavy metal content in leachate is that the
concentration is high. An example that goes against this assumption shows the Cd
concentration in leachate emanating from a landfill in the methaneogenic phase, see
Figure 3. It is important to observe that the observations are sorted in magnitude, and not
by time. Among other things it is worth to observe that the discharge level of Cd in the
treated leachate is often below the stipulated maximum level of Cd in potable water as
defined in the Swedish drinking water standards. Similar observations are relevant for
most of the defined heavy metals in treated leachate. The process reason for this
condition is that the methaneogenic phase creates an anaerobic environment inside the
landfill. The landfill acts as an anaerobic reactor that encourages the precipitation of
metal sulphides. These compounds will stay inside the landfill as long as the anaerobic
conditions prevail.

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 Figure 3 Cd concentration in leachate from a Swedish sanitary landfill compared with the Cd
concentration level in potable water, see Morling (2010)

The previous design of leachate treatment (Sweco document: “Autonomous Republic of

Adjara, Georgia, Adjara Solid Waste Management Project, Leachate treatment –
Technical description and Preliminary design”, dated October 2011) has been based on
the following pollution concentrations; see Table 3.
Table 3 Estimated leachate quality for the first operation years
Variable Unit Value
BOD5 mg/l 2 000
COD mg/l 4 000
N-tot mg/l 500
NH4-N mg/l 400
P-tot mg/l 2.0
Cl mg/l > 1 500

This estimated leachate quality is based on experience data from other plants – i.e. they
cannot be calculated. The values are assumed to occur when one or more Cells are filled
up. These values will be used for calculation of the design loads to the treatment plant. It
should however be underlined that the presented values reflect a “young landfill”,

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 operated only at a maximum of a couple of years. A long term reliable composition during
the methaneogenic phase is presented in Table 4.
Table 4 Estimated leachate quality for a long term operation

Variable Unit Value

BOD5 mg/l 250
COD mg/l 1 600
N-tot mg/l 500
NH4-N mg/l 450
P-tot mg/l 1.5
Cl mg/l 1 500 – 2 500

As a summary the short term and long term key pollutants entering a leachate treatment
facility at the Tsetskhlauri, Adjara sanitary landfill are estimated as follows; see Table 5:

Table 5 Estimated pollution loads in leachate from Tsetskhlauri, Adjara sanitary landfill
Variable Unit Short term Long term

Phase acidic methane

Estimated duration Years < 2.5 < 100

3
Design flow m /d 200 200

BOD5 kg/d 400 50

COD kg/d 800 300
N-tot kg/d 100 100
NH4-N kg/d 80 90
P-tot kg/d 0.4 0.3

Comments on the different pollution variables in relation to a biological treatment of

leachates are given in the following chapter.

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 3 Considerations of appropriate treatment technologies
A number of relevant criteria may be defined for the selection of an appropriate treatment
technology for the leachate at the Batumi sanitary landfill. These may be addressed as
follows:
 The environmental impact caused by the discharge of treated leachate must be
limited, and comply with the effluent standards;
 The chosen treatment process must allow for a “safety margin” at operating
conditions, related to the formal effluent standards;
 The chosen process must have a substantial stability at varying loading and
temperature conditions;
 The process should have a “built in flexibility” in order to meet demands for
operation costs efficiency;
 The chosen process should have a configuration that allows for a future upgrade
without major reconstruction costs;
 The process should be easy to understand for the operator.
 Two different treatment options have been presented previously during the
project development:
In 2010 a system based on a Sequencing Batch Reactor technology has been elaborated
(“Autonomous Republic of Adjara, Georgia, Adjara Solid Waste Management Project,
Leachate treatment – Technical description and Preliminary design”, dated October
2011). In 2013 a system based on a dual pond system, followed by a constructed wetland
has been proposed (Adjara Solid Waste Management Project Support to the Project
implementation Unit, Engineering Design Services and Contract Supervision EBRD TCD
ID: 26499, Preliminary Design Report, February 2013). These two models may be seen
as variants of biological treatment based on suspended growth technology. In order to
illustrate a number of related biological systems, Figure 4 serves as guidance.
The first proposal for leachate treatment (report in October 2011) is based on the SBR-
technology, a very proven treatment system for leachate. The technology is normally
designed as an “Extended Aeration” plant. According to a recent university study at Lund
Technical University the SBR-system is the dominating model for leachate treatment in
the United Kingdom; see Madu, J. I. (2002).

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 Figure 4 A simplified illustration of the relation between plant complexity and the needed hydraulic
retention time for different biological treatment systems, based on suspended growth, Morling
(2009)

However, concerns have been raised with respect to the chosen technological level in the
proposed plant configuration. In Figure 5 is presented a simplified process scheme for
this model.

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 Figure 5 Initially proposed process scheme for leachate from the Tsetskhlauri, Adjara Sanitary
Landfill

The second study in February 2013 suggests a dual stage pond system, followed by a
constructed wetland stage. A simplified process scheme is shown in Figure 6 for this
option.

Figure 6 Proposed process scheme for leachate treatment, based on dual pond system from the
Tsetskhlauri, Adjara Sanitary Landfill

A further comparison of possible and relevant treatment methods included here is other
systems using the aerated lagoon technology. A comprehensive description of the
modern adaption of this technology has been developed by the late professor Linvil G.
Rich, working at the Clemson University. Some of his central works are found on the
internet presented as technical notes. The core of this technology has been labelled
“Dual Power, Multicellular Aerated Lagoon system”, in the following labelled “DPMC”. As
compared with earlier “one cell aerated lagoon system” this development may be
characterized by the following features:

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 The lagoon system is divided into 3 to 5 aerated cells arranged in series. The different
cells have unique design conditions and functions. This in turn means that the total
hydraulic residence time is reduced from around 10 days for a one cell system down to 3
– 5 days. The typical arrangements for the DPMC system are defined as follows:
 The first cell is a totally mixed and aerated cell. The hydraulic retention time is at
least 2 days. The installed aeration power should satisfy a complete mixing of the
incoming wastewater with the suspended growth of bacteria. A classic design
3
figure for mixing has been given as > 5 W/m . However, far more important is the
design of oxygen supply for the cell. Related to the wastewater temperature and
the treatment demands the calculation of the installed aeration power will often
3
result in a substantially higher specific installed power than the 5 W/m .
 The following cells will have a multi-purpose task to fulfil: To function as a
downstream polishing stage; to keep the upper layer of wastewater in aerobic
conditions; to allow for a controlled sedimentation of biomass on the cell bottom.
This in turn allows also for a “benthal stabilization” of the sludge. When correctly
designed this stabilization will allow for a low net sludge production, and thus
allow for a rather simple sludge management system. These cells are normally
sized for a hydraulic retention time of around 1 day at design conditions.
 Sometimes the system is followed by a settling pond stage, sized for an
additional settling of bio sludge.
 The final stage of the treatment chain may be a constructed wetland.
A simplified process scheme of the Dual Power, Multi Cellular aerated lagoon is shown in
Figure 7.

Figure 7. Proposed process scheme for leachate treatment, based on a Dual Power, Multi Cellular
aerated lagoon system from the Tsetskhlauri, Adjara Sanitary Landfill

A comparison of these three systems may be done with the six different criteria presented
above; see Table 6:

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 Table 6 Comparison of three different treatment models of leachate at the Tsetskhlauri, Adjara
Sanitary Landfill

Criteria Natural ponds DPMC system SBR-system

1. Environmental Impact Limited nitrogen oxid- Excellent BOD- Excellent BOD-

ation, risk for methane removal, acceptable removal, acceptable

gas evaporation COD-removal; high nitrogen COD-removal; total N-

oxidation reduction possible

2. Safety margin Extended retention Could be upgraded for a An “oversized” reactor will

time secures a safety retention time >>5 days safeguard a good safety

Margin and a three step margin, a flexible automa-

configuration tion system is needed

3. Stability at variations Improved if a multi- An “oversizing” of the An “oversizing” of the

stage system is built. aeration system pro- aeration system pro-

vides a good stability vides a good stability

4.”Built in Flexibility” The simple process The design details may The different operation

means also a limited allow for an improved modes built into the auto-

flexibility operation flexibility mation of the process guar—

tees a good flexibility

5.Option for future up- The most feasible Once the original design has The most promising up-

Grade way to upgrade a pond taken into consideration it is grade of an SBR-unit is

system is to add new feasible to up-grade the plant to include a MBR-stage

specialized reactors. for instance to a SBR-facility. (Membrane Bio Reactor)

6. Simple process? Yes! A competent Rather simple, may become may be seen as the most

attention from an more complex if additional complex process of the

operator should be process demands are intro- three compared systems.

no less than duced. A competent attention A competent attention

0.3 man-year from an operator should be from an operator should be

no less than 0.5 man-year no less than 1.5man-year

7. Effluents: BOD < 50 mg/l BOD < 10 mg/l BOD < 10 mg/l

(COD < 1,500 mg/l) (COD <300 mg/l) (COD <300 mg/l) 1)

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 NH4-N < 150 mg/l NH4-N < 15 mg/l NH4-N < 15 mg/l

Comments to the table: 1) It is important to underline that principally all municipal sanitary
landfills will discharge very high levels of chlorine concentrations. This in turn affects the
accuracy of the COD analysis to such a level that the resulting COD level is not
dependable. This in turn means that the COD effluent in “reality” will be substantially
lower than the laboratory results show.
Conclusions: Based on the different considerations as presented above it is suggested to
elaborate the leachate treatment as a Dual Power Multicellular Aerated Lagoon system,
taking into account of both some of the construction advantages with the pond system
and the potential process upgrades to an SBR-system. However, at this stage it is most
of all important to underline the demands for process operation simplicity in the plant
design.

4 Presentation of the adopted technology

The proposed treatment system is four stages arranged in the following treatment chain:

 A completely aerated cell of up to 11 days hydraulic retention time, and around

4.6 days at peak design flow conditions;
 Two parallel facultative cells of up to 2.5 days hydraulic retention time each, and
around 1 day at peak design flow conditions;
 One settling pond of up to 2.5 days hydraulic retention time, and around 1 day at
peak design flow conditions;
 A constructed wetland of up to 17 days hydraulic retention time, and around 7
days at peak design flow conditions;
 Excess sludge will be withdrawn twice a year from the two facultative cells and
the settling pond. The sludge will be used as a final cover of the deposit cells at
the sanitary landfill.

Below the different treatment stages are presented more closely.

First Stage: completely aerated lagoon cell

The proposed system, the DPMC, will be sized for a long term capacity to transform the
nitrogen into nitrate nitrogen. However, during the first years of operation when the landfill
is “young” the leachate will be rich in easily degradable organics (BOD 5). During these
first years of operation the system will be operated mainly for the removal of organic
matters and a partial nitrification of the ammonia nitrogen. As the landfill passes into the
methaneogenic phase the organic content in the leachate expressed as BOD 5 will
decrease substantially, and the system will be transforming the ammonia nitrogen into
nitrates. Based on these conditions the first cell in the system will be designed in
accordance with Table 7. The chosen volume for the first cell has taken into account a
substantial capacity for nitrogen oxidation as the leachate composition is changed into

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 the long term operation. The cell will be built as shown in Figure 8, as a basin in earth
with a sealing layer of clay, and with needed erosion protection devices under the
aerators. The aerators may be operated intermittently, and preferably be operated
between 18.00 hours until 10.00 hours the following day. This in turn will possibly save
energy cost, by using the electricity mainly during night hours. The preferred aerator
devices are floating, high speed surface aerators, providing a sufficient oxygen capacity
into the cell.

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 Table 7 Design of first cell in a DPMC system for the leachate treatment at the Tsetskhlauri, Adjara
Sanitary Landfill

Methaneogenic
Variable Unit First phase
phase

Phase duration years <2.5 < 100

Design data
3
Daily flow m /d 200 200
3
Designpeak flow m /d 300 500
3
Design flow max m /d 600 1,200
Design temperature °C 12 12
Design load of BOD5 kg/d 400 50
Design load of COD 800 500
Design load of non-nitrified N tot-N/d 100 100
Assimilation of N kg N/d 20 2.5
Needs for nitrification kg NH4-N/d 35 92.5
Nitrification rate g NH4-N/kg VSS/h 1.5 1.5
Aeration time per day h 17 18
Quote VSS/SS kg/kg 0.75:1 0.75:1
3
MLSS reactor, net kg SS/m 1 2
3
MLVSS reactor, net kg VSS/m 0.75 1.5
Total amount of VSS in the reactors
kg VSS 1,373 3,426
according to need for nitrification
3
First totally mixed cell volume m 2,300 2,300

Reactor dimensions
Number of basins st 1 1
3
Reactor volume m 2,300 2300
3
Water depth m 4 4
Required oxygen capacity, AOR kg O2/d 458 454
Required oxygen capacity, SOR kg O2/d 910 900
Hours for oxygenation, h / d h/d 17
17
Oxygenation capacity per hour kg O2/h 54 53
Specific oxygen capacity kg O2/kWh kg O2/kWh 1.8
1.8
Necessary power kW 30 29
Installed power kW 2*15 2*15

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 Dosage of phosphorus chemical
The biological process in the lagoon system will require the presence of certain amounts
of nutrients, i.e. nitrogen and phosphorus chemicals. Landfill leachate normally contains a
substantial excess of nitrogen, in the form of ammonia nitrogen, while the content of
phosphorus is low. In other words, an addition of a phosphorus salt will be necessary for
an efficient operation of the process.
Assuming that phosphoric acid (H3PO4) is used; the following consumption has been
estimated:
Phosphorus, as P 6 kg/d;
Phosphorus, as H3PO4 20 kg/d;
as 85% acid approx. 24 kg/d or 15 l/d
An option would be to use a commercial fertilizer containing a phosphorus component.
The dose may be arranged in a very simple way:
The addition of phosphorus can be done at daytime as a batch dose.

Figure 8 View of an aerated lagoon with surface aerators installed for oxygen supply

Second stage cells, facultative cells

The aerated leachate will be directed by gravity to two parallel secondary lagoons. These
are labelled “facultative” cells. Each cell will be sized for a 2.5 days retention time at
3
design flow. The chosen volume is 2* 500 m . The water depth will be 3 m in the cells.
The cells will be equipped with surface aerators, principally of the same type as for the
3
first cell, but with substantially lower installed power, 2 W/m will be sufficient. We

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 suggest the installation of one aerator in each cell of 1 kW. The settling of sludge in the
cell will allow for an anaerobic decomposition of organics. This in turn will provide a so
called “benthal stabilization” of the sludge, and thus minimize the production of waste
sludge.
Settling pond
A final settling pond for a further solids separation will be built downstream the facultative
3
cells. The volume will be around 500 m , and the water depth 2.5 m. The pond will
provide a further solids separation capacity, and an additional capacity for benthal
stabilization of the sludge.
Constructed Wetland
The settled water will pass into a constructed wetland in order to secure a stable and
good final quality of the leachate. The needed area has been estimated to around 2,700
2
m . However, in order to provide additional safety and improved polishing capacity the
2
area is enlarged to 3,450 m . Furthermore, the wetland is divided into five cells in series
in order to enhance the polishing capacity even more.
Expected treatment results
The following treatment results may be expected for the two phases; see Table 8
Table 8 Estimated discharge quality in treated leachate from the Tsetskhlauri, Adjara Sanitary
Landfill
Variable Unit Short term Long term

Phase acidic methane

Phase duration Years <2.0 < 100
3
Design flow m /d 200 200

BOD5 mg/l <5 <5

1)
COD mg/l < 120 < 120
N-tot mg/l < 15 < 15
NH4-N mg/l <2 <2
P-tot mg/l < 0.4 < 0.3

There are a number of both practical and theoretical considerations to be addressed

when considering the discharge quality of the treated leachate:
1. It is important to underline that principally all municipal sanitary landfills will discharge
very high levels of chlorine concentrations. This in turn affects the accuracy of the COD
analysis to such a level that the resulting COD level is not dependable. This in turn
means that the COD effluent in “reality” will be substantially lower than the laboratory

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 results show. Thus the COD would be taken as a temporary value, subject to a further
examination, once the real leachate is produced and treated;
2. The initially chosen discharge values with respect to nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen
are chosen with a considerably conservative approach. The very comprehensive
experience from the Swedish and Scandinavian theatre show the following points:
a. For the largest municipal Swedish WWTP:s are the new, more strict
discharge levels for total N given as an annual mean value < 8 mg N/l. At the same time
the consent value for ammonia nitrogen is given as < 2 – 3 mg NH4-N;
b. For a leachate treatment plant with some resemblance with the
forthcoming plant in Adjara there is a very well documented performance record. In Table
9 is shown the performance from two operation years see also Ref. 1. It is important to
observe that the two full scale plants, called Isätra and Norsa have reached very low
ammonia nitrogen levels. However, to guarantee the NH 4-N level < 0.39 mg N/l is indeed
more than bold! We suggest that a provisional guarantee level for this variable is < 4 mg
NH4-N /l; to be followed up during a two year “test operation period” before a stipulating
level is defined. It is however also important to keep in mind that the accuracy of the
analysis method must be taken into consideration. For the NH4-N it may be +/- 10 %:
Table 9 Recorded discharge quality in treated leachate from three different treatment
plants for leachate in Sweden; see also reference [1]
Variable Unit Bösarp Isätra Norsa
3
Design flow m /d 7 86 85
BOD5, in mg/l
1,000 – 6,400 250 19 - 60
BOD5, out mg/l
6 - 20 5 - 29 3 - 22
N-tot, in mg/l
200 - 500 87 - 220 140 - 310
N-tot, out mg/l
45 - 63 7 -24 9 – (56)
NH4-N, in mg/l
185 - 480 77 - 190 88 - 190
NH4-N, out mg/l
< 5 -25 <1 <1

The most critical issue regarding the ammonia discharge is however not the ionized
ammonia nitrogen, but rather the unionized ammonia, expressed as NH 3. The balance
between NH4 and NH3 is related both to water temperature and to the ruling pH value.
The critical factor is the presence of unionized ammonia that is far more toxic than the
ammonium nitrogen. The Table below is presented for a number of Swedish clients that
have to deal with sensitive water bodies, thus the unionized ammonia is the sensitive
matter. The table was originally presented by Emerson et al. in 1975 and has since then
been an assessment tool for the risk of the presence of unionized ammonia in the
discharge water. In Table 10 is shown the balance further for the situation in Adjara,
based on three different levels of ammonia nitrogen in the treated leachate, 1, 2 and 5 mg
NH4-N/l.

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 Table 10.Unionised ammonia for three different discharge levels of NH4-N, at four
different water temperatures and at two different pH-values
T NH4-N pH NH3 pH NH3
oC 7 mg/l 7.5 mg/l
10 5 0.186 0.0093 0.586 0.0293
15 5 0.273 0.01365 0.859 0.04295
20 5 0.396 0.0198 1.24 0.062
25 5 0.566 0.0283 1.77 0.0885

T NH4-N pH NH3 pH NH3

oC 7 mg/l 7.5 mg/l
10 2 0.186 0.00372 0.586 0.01172
15 2 0.273 0.00546 0.859 0.01718
20 2 0.396 0.00792 1.24 0.0248
25 2 0.566 0.01132 1.77 0.0354

T NH4-N pH NH3 pH NH3

oC 7 mg/l 7.5 mg/l
10 1 0.186 0.00186 0.586 0.00586
15 1 0.273 0.00273 0.859 0.00859
20 1 0.396 0.00396 1.24 0.0124
25 1 0.566 0.00566 1.77 0.0177

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 As a consequence the unionized ammonia will most likely be less than 0.03 mg NH3/l, as
a possible maximum level when the discharge concentration is maximum 2 mg NH 4-N/l.
The expected annual mean value will rather be in the vicinity of less than 0.006 mg NH 3/l.
These values may be compared with the directive from the European community
2006/44/EG, stated as 0,025 mg NH3/l. Please observe that a reasonable dilution factor
in the receiving water body may be at least 5, thus resulting in a worst case value of
always < 0, 02 mg NH3/l. An annual mean value would be < 0,002 mg NH3/l.

As a conclusion: The discharge levels of ammonia nitrogen would not represent any
significant or even possibly measurable impact on the receiving water body

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 5 Reference list
As basis for this study a number of scientific papers have been used. These are listed
below:
E. C. Hoepker and E. D. Schroeder (1979), “The Effect of Loading Rate on Batch-
Activated Sludge Effluent Quality,” Journal of Water Pollution Control Federation, Vol. 51,
Irvine, R. I. (1983) “Technology Assessment of Sequencing Batch Reactors,” US
Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati,
Irvine, R. L., et al. (1987) “Analysis of Full-Scale SBR Operation at Grundy Center, Iowa,”
Journal of Water Pollution Control Federation, Vol. 59, No. 3, 1987, pp. 132-138.
Marklund, S. and Morling, S. (1994), “Biological Phosphorus Removal at Temperatures
from 3 to 10°C—A Full Scale Study of a Sequencing Batch Reactor Unit,” Canadian
Journal of Civil Engineering, Vol. 21, No. 1, 1994, pp. 81-88. doi:10.1139/l94-008
William Hogland, W. et al (1996) “Land filling, First Edition” Department of Water
Resources Engineering, Lund Institute of Technology/Lund University, 1996
Bozkurt, S (Serti) (2000) “Assessment of the Long-Term Transport Processes and
Chemical Evaluation in Waste Deposits”, Doctoral Thesis, Royal Institute of Technology,
Stockholm, 2000
Madu, J. I. (2002).”New leachate treatment methods”, Water and Environmental
Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Lund University
Rich, L. G. (2003) “Aerated Lagoon Technology, Technical notes, 1 - 10”
http://www.lagoonsonline.com/technote9.htm
Glixelli, T. M. (2003) “Treatment of ammonium-rich waste streams with deammonification
process”, Master of Science Thesis, Cracow University of Technology, Cracow and Royal
Institute of Technology, Stockholm
Morling, S. (2006) “Swedish experiences of landfill leachate treatment using Sequencing
Batch Reactors for nitrogen removal” lecture given at IPSI conference in Bled, Slovenia,
December 2006
Morling, S. (2009) “SBR-technology – use and potential applications for treatment of cold
wastewater” Doctoral Thesis in Land and Water Resources Engineering, Stockholm,
Sweden 2009, ISBN 978-91-7415-341-5
Morling, S. (2010) “Nitrogen removal and heavy metal in leachate treatment using SBR
technology” Journal of Hazardous Materials, 174 (2010) 679-686
Morling, S. (2012) “Nitrogen removal and heavy metals in leachate treatment using SBR
technology”; Journal of Hazardous Materials 174 (2010) 679–686; Contents lists available
at Science Direct, Journal of Hazardous Materials journal homepage:
www.elsevier.com/locate/jhazmat;

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 Morling S., Franquiz A., Måhlgren J. and Westlund Å (2014) “Long term experiences of
sequencing batch reactor-system and wetland treatment from a municipal wastewater
treatment plant in Sweden, operated with low temperature wastewater”; Water Practice &
Technology Vol 9 No 2 1 doi: 10.2166/wpt.2014.027
Sweco Environment “Site assessment report for the new landfill situated at Tsetskhlauri,
Adjara, Georgia”, dated 2012-07-24
Sweco Environment: “AUTONOMOUS REPUBLIC OF ADJARA, GEORGIA, Adjara Solid
Waste Management Project, Leachate treatment – Technical description and Preliminary
design”, dated October 2011
Sweco Environment: “Adjara Solid Waste Management Project Support to the Project
implementation Unit, Engineering Design Services and Contract Supervision EBRD TCD
ID: 26499, Preliminary Design Report, February 2013”

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