FEIR for Boitshepi Landfill Site .pdf - Zitholele.co.za

125August 2010 884811.3.3 GroundwaterInitial ImpactThe geohydrological impact will be of HIGH significance and will remain rated as aModerate impact as per the construction and operational phases.Additional ImpactDecommissioning and closure of the waste disposal site will involve covering the remainingwastes with impermeable liners satisfying the requirements of the DWA, followed by a layerof topsoil, vegetating the topsoil layer with hardy, but locally indigenous varieties of grassesand shrubs, demolishing unwanted infrastructure, removing contaminated soil, ripping andvegetating compacted areas. No further waste will be disposed on site. No water will be ableto infiltrate through the capping and percolate as leachate. Should water penetrate thecapping layer, it will be collected in the leachate collection system and be diverted to thesewer.The additional impact to groundwater is LOW impact and the site will be capped and noadditional waste will be accepted. It is therefore rated as above- Low impact that willdefinitely occur in the study area.Cumulative ImpactThe cumulative impact during the decommissioning phase remains as assessed above sincethe additional impact and the initial impact occur in the same area. Therefore the impactremains as Moderate impact.Mitigation MeasuresMitigation measures proposed during the construction phase for the liner and associatedinfrastructure on the site are applicable during the construction and rehabilitation for closure.All mitigation measures proposed for the liner are applicable for the capping construction.Residual ImpactWith proper execution of the above closure measures, the probability of an impact ongroundwater would be unlikely and therefore remains as assessed for the additional impact.ZITHOLELE CONSULTING