Under what specific landfill condition is a geoelectric leak detection system most effective?

A geoelectric leak detection system is most effective in landfills with a dry subgrade and a conductive leachate. These systems work by introducing an electrical current into the landfill liner system and measuring the electrical potential distribution. A leak creates a pathway of lower electrical resistance because leachate is typically much more conductive than the surrounding dry soil. The system detects anomalies in the electrical potential, indicating the location of a leak. A dry subgrade is essential because moisture in the subgrade can create alternative, unintended conductive pathways, obscuring the signal from the leak and reducing the system's accuracy. Similarly, the leachate needs to be significantly more conductive than the surrounding materials to create a measurable contrast in electrical potential. Therefore, a dry subgrade and conductive leachate are the ideal conditions for a geoelectric leak detection system to function effectively and accurately pinpoint the location of leaks in the landfill liner system.