Methods of hazardous waste containment

Abstract

A hazardous waste containment system for preventing the lateral migration of hazardous fluid substances (including both liquid and gas wastes) into the water table, particularly for sites which are located over a fluid impermeable strata of clay (20) or the like. The system uses an encircling (FIG. 7) barrier containment wall comprising a plurality of slidingly engaged, interlocked, vertical barrier members (3) which extend down to and sealingly interface with the underlying fluid impermeable strata. The barrier members are slidingly engaged via interlocking male and female appendages (1 & 4), which mate and form a vertically extended chamber (33), in which a fluid impermeable seal (7) is formed. A method for implementing the invention where caving is a problem includes the augured excavation of a series of adjacent, overlapping, vertical holes (18, 18a) of prescribed depth and width and/or diameter in the soil surrounding the area to be contained and extending down to the underlying strata, installing the vertical barrier wall in the holes, and sealing the joints formed by each connection and back-filling the holes. Two and three slotted guide boxes( 15; FIG. 1; FIGS. 8c & 8d) are used to position and join adjacent sets of barrier members and prevent caving in of the surrounding soil. The method further includes the utilization of a sealant (25) at the base of the containment wall to prevent leaching under it (FIG. 2). The system may be used to contain a variety of materials and may be implemented in various soil conditions with similarly successful results.