Don't let it slide

The necessity of conducting slope stability analyses, which can prevent slope failures to occur in bioreactors, is described. In a new or converted bioreactor, the analyses must address the effect of additional liquid on waste and the driving forces, the accelerated degradation of the waste in terms of the shear strength, and the effect of adding liquid to the liner system. For the construction and initial filling analyses, engineering properties for non-degraded waste can be used. Stability analyses are used to evaluate the effect of injection pressures on the impact of perched liquid levels throughout the waste. To reduce perched liquids' potential, bioreactor designs promoting uniform distribution and maximum liquid adsorption are preferred.