CAPACITIVE RESISTIVITY METHOD FOR DETECTION OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC CONTAMINATION IN A DOMESTIC WASTE MANAGEMENT AREA

Abstract

In this work, the theoretical aspects and the results obtained by the application of the Capacitive Resistivity method, through the electrical imaging technique, in a proven contaminated area are presented. The variations in electrical resistivities measured by this innovative geophysical methodology made it possible, through the detection of anomalies of high and low values, to discriminate the presence of organic and inorganic compounds in the subsurface, due to the infiltration in the soil of fuel and leachate, respectively. The positioning of the anomalies defined in this geophysical survey is correlated to the potential sources of contamination existing in the area and which are represented by the supply and lubrication unit and the places for handling and transferring domestic waste. In addition to these environmental anomalies, in the images obtained, features associated with the zones of influence of the pumping wells installed for remediation of the site are also identified, pointing out their efficiencies or limitations for the removal of contaminated groundwater. Therefore, the results obtained confirm the potential of the Capacitive Resistivity method in this type of application and its usefulness for the environmental management of the case.