| Abstract: | Geohydrologic conditions of the Municipal Solid Waste
Landfill Facility (MSWLF) on the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery
Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso County, Texas, were evaluated by
the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the U.S. Army. The
106.03-acre MSWLF has been in operation since January 1974. The
landfill contains household refuse, Post solid wastes, bulky
items, grass and tree trimmings from family housing, refuse from
litter cans, construction debris, classified waste (dry), dead
animals, asbestos, and empty oil cans.
The MSWLF, located about 1,200 feet east of the nearest
occupied structure, is estimated to receive an average of
approximately 56 tons of municipal solid waste per day and, at a
fill rate of 1-4 acres per year, is expected to reach its capacity
by the year 2004. The MSWLF is located in the Hueco Bolson, 4
miles east of the Franklin Mountains. Elevations at the MSWLF
range from 3,907 to 3,937 feet above sea level. The climate at the
MSWLF and vicinity is arid continental, characterized by an
abundance of sunny days, high summer temperatures, relatively
cool winters typical of arid areas, scanty rainfall, and very low
humidity throughout the year. Average annual temperature near the
MSWLF and vicinity is 63.3 degrees Fahrenheit and annual
precipitation is 7.8 inches. Potential evaporation in the El Paso
area was estimated to be 65 inches per year. Soils at and
adjacent to the MSWLF are nearly level to gently sloping, have a
fine sandy loam subsoil, and are moderately deep over caliche.
The MSWLF is underlain by Hueco Bolson deposits of Tertiary
age and typically are composed of unconsolidated to slightly
consolidated interbedded sands, clay, silt, gravel, and caliche.
Individual beds are not well defined and range in thickness from a
fraction of an inch to about 100 feet. The primary source of
ground water in the MSWLF area is in the deposits of the Hueco
Bolson. A relatively thick vadose zone of approximately 300 feet
overlies the aquifer of the Hueco Bolson deposits in the vicinity
of the MSWLF. A deep water table prevails for all of the study
area. Whether any perched water zones exist below the MSWLF is
unknown. Under current conditions, extensive ground-water
development by the City of El Paso encompasses the MSWLF.
Hydraulic characteristics of the Hueco Bolson vary significantly
as a result of the nonuniform nature of the individual beds.
Wells in the vicinity of the MSWLF range in depth from about 600
feet to greater than 1,200 feet. Recharge resulting from direct
infiltration of precipitation is minor due to the high
evaporation and low precipitation rates. The hydraulic gradient
in the vicinity of the MSWLF is generally to the south but may
vary due to pumpage of a well located on the northeast corner of
the perimeter boundary. Ground-water monitoring data for the
MSWLF vicinity show a water-level decline of 55.65 feet from
November 1958 to December 1987. Depth to water at the northeast
corner of the MSWLF as of July 26, 1994, was 325.8 feet below land
surface.
The city-operated Shearman Well Field, located north of the
MSWLF, is a primary source of ground water for the City of El
Paso. The test-pumping rate of well JL-49-05-914 (the well
nearest to the MSWLF having test-pumping data) was 1,972 gallons
per minute on July 20, 1992; the static water level prior to
pumping was 317.54 feet below land surface. El Paso Water
Utilities reports that the pumping level after 8 hours of pumping
was 367.80 feet below land surface, resulting in a drawdown of
50.26 feet, transmissivity of 22,200 feet squared per day
(166,000 gallons per day per foot), and specific capacity of 39.2
gallons per minute per foot of drawdown. After the well was shut
off, the well recovered to a static water level of 317.46 feet
below land surface on July 21, 1992.
Ground wat |
| Genre: | USGS Numbered Series |
| ProdID: | 25869 |
| Citation Author: | Abeyta, Cynthia G. |
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| Citation Language: | ENGLISH |
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| Citation Phsyical Description: | v, 36 p. :ill., maps ;28 cm. |
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| Citation Publisher: | U.S. Geological Survey ;
Earth Science Information Center, Open-File Reports Section [distributor], |
| Citation Series: | Water-Resources Investigations Report |
| Citation Series Code: | WRI |
| Citation Series Number: | 95-4217 |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Geohydrologic site characterization of the municipal solid waste landfill facility, US Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso County, Texas; 1996; WRI; 95-4217; Abeyta, Cynthia G. |
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| Citation Year: | 1996 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Geohydrologic site characterization of the municipal solid waste landfill facility, US Army Air Defense Artillery Center and Fort Bliss, El Paso County, Texas; 1996; WRI; 95-4217; Abeyta, Cynthia G. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/1995/4217/report-thumb.jpg |
| URL (DOCUMENT): | http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/1995/4217/report.pdf |
| Date Other: | Sat, 1 Feb 1997 00:00 -0600 |
| Publisher: | U.S. Geological Survey ;
Earth Science Information Center, Open-File Reports Section [distributor], |
