What Is a Leachate Pump Station?

A leachate pump station is used to collect and transfer leachate generated at landfill sites for storage, transport or treatment. These systems are particularly important where collected leachate needs to be reliably moved from the landfill's collection system to the next stage of the site's leachate management process.

The collection, handling, and management of water runoff from landfill sites is one of the most important aspects of environmental responsibility.  Leachate collection is carefully managed and controlled, and the storage of collected leachate, and pumping for transport or onsite treatment is critical infrastructure.  Pump stations become as critical to the success of the landfill as anything. 

Leachate is a liquid that is formed when rainwater percolates through landfill waste and typically contains high levels of organic and inorganic contaminants, including heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This liquid is often highly toxic and corrosive and poses a risk to the environment. As you can conclude, this makes it uniquely difficult to dispose of properly. That is where a leachate pump station design comes into play.

Leachate collection pump stations typically consist of a wet well, submersible pumps, mechanical components, piping, valves and a control panel.

How Does a Leachate Pump Station Work?

Leachate collected from the landfill is directed into the pump station's wet well. The pumps then transfer the leachate through the station's piping and valves. Depending on the site, the collected leachate can be transferred for storage, transport or onsite treatment and disposal.

Why Is HDPE Used for Leachate Pump Stations?

Structural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is commonly used for leachate pump station wet wells because of its chemical resistance and durability against the corrosive effects of leachate. Without the need for any protective surface coatings, HDPE is resistant to chemical degradation, provides a long service life, and comes prepackaged as a monolithic structure to eliminate the risk of leaking. The submersible pumps are located within the wet well and used to pump the leachate to a transport vehicle or onsite treatment facility for safe neutralizing and disposal.

HDPE Structural Calculations

• Manufacturing Standards: ASTM F894
• Pipe Size: 18 in. to 132 in. I.D.
• Pipe Ring Stiffness: Up to 400
• Pipe Length: Up to 50 ft.
• Pressure Rating: Up to 30 PSI
• Pipe Connection: Welded or Flanged
• Flexural Modulus: 80,000 - 110,000 PSI
• Tensile Strengths: 3,000 - 5,000 PSI
• Certifications: NSF, BNQ

• Friction Factor; Hazen-Williams / Manning: 150-155 / 0.01

Leachate Pump Station Projects

The following are examples of leachate pump stations supplied by Excel Fluid Group for landfill applications across the United States, covering a range of station sizes, materials and configurations.

To see more examples from these projects, check out the image gallery at the bottom of the page.

Bradford County, PA – Northern Tier Solid Waste Authority

• 8 ft. diameter by 26 ft. deep HDPE pump station with an internal 7 ft. deep valve vault and flow meter within 

Adams County, PA – ADSCO Landfill Pump Station

• 5 ft. diameter x 13 ft. deep HDPE pump station with custom leak detection assembly

Munising, MI – Wood Island Landfill Pump Station

• 10 ft. diameter by 20ft. deep HDPE pump station with a 6ft. diameter double-walled liner and a 10 ft. x 8 ft. fiberglass controls building

Jeffersonville, IN – Clark-Floyd Landfill Truck Loadout Pump Station

• Retrofit pump station reusing an existing on-grade storage tank designed to load tanker trucks in 15 minute intervals

Preble County, OH – Landfill Pump Station with a Concrete Building

• Prefabricated 10.5 ft. x 12.5ft concrete building outfitted with 2 in. HDPE piping for a duplex end-suction pump system

Polk County, FL – Landfill Fiberglass Pump Station

• 6 ft. diameter by 10 ft. deep fiberglass pump station with 4 in. Schedule 80 PVC piping

The projects above demonstrate how different leachate pump station sizes, materials and configurations can be used to meet varying landfill and site requirements.

For more information on HDPE pump stations, check our HDPE vs. Concrete Pump Station design and Which Pump Station Design is Right for You? blog posts. You can also learn more about Excel Fluid Group's Leachate Pump Stations or contact us to discuss your next pump station project.

Leachate Pump Station FAQs

How is leachate collected and removed from a landfill?

Leachate is collected through the landfill's drainage and collection system and directed to a collection point or pump station. From there, pumps transfer the collected leachate for storage, transport or treatment, depending on the landfill's infrastructure and leachate management requirements.

Where does leachate go after it is collected?

Once collected, leachate may be transferred to onsite storage or treatment facilities or pumped for transport to an appropriate offsite treatment facility. The method used depends on the landfill's infrastructure and how the site manages and treats its collected leachate.

What materials are used for leachate pump stations?

Leachate pump stations can use HDPE, fiberglass and concrete for wet wells and associated structures, depending on the pump station design and application. HDPE is particularly suited to leachate applications because of its chemical resistance, durability and resistance to corrosive leachate. Other components may use materials such as HDPE or PVC piping, depending on the system design.