In-ground barrier system with pass-through

Abstract

A hazardous waste containment system for preventing the lateral migration of hazardous fluid substances (including both liquid and gas wastes, heavy metals, etc.) into the water table, particularly for sites which are located over a fluid impermeable strata (20) of clay or the like, while also allowing the controlled removal and/or in situ treatment of the fluid substances. The system uses an encircling barrier containment wall (W) comprising a plurality of slidingly engaged, sealed, interlocked, vertical barrier members (501/101) which extend down to and sealingly interface with the underlying fluid impermeable strata. At least one barrier member (1') includes a pass-through (P', FIG. 2) for one or more pipes (900) leading into an adjacent, satellite work/equipment area (E, FIGS. 1 & 3) where the hazardous fluids are controllable removed and treated on-site, and the treated fluids thereafter removed out of the work/equipment area. An installation method for assembling the barrier members in the ground uses a series of guide box assemblies (1-3+), the one (2') for the barrier member having the pass-through likewise having adjacent, pass-through areas (902), which guide box assemblies can be easily assembled and disassembled and which are placed in the excavation fully assembled. The guide box assemblies surrounding the work/equipment area are left in the ground, while the rest are removed during the installation process. Two exemplary guide box assembly embodiments (FIGS. 4 & 9) and two exemplary barrier member embodiments (FIGS. 6/7 & 9), double-wall and single wall, respectively, are disclosed.