Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP) Model

The Hydrologic Evaluation of Landfill Performance (HELP V 4.0) model is a quasi-two-dimensional hydrologic model of water movement across, into, through and out of landfills. 

It estimates water balances for landfills and other land disposal systems. The program models rainfall, runoff, infiltration, and other water pathways to estimate how much water builds up above each landfill liner.

The model considers design parameters. It can incorporate data on:

• vegetation;
• soil types;
• geosynthetic materials;
• initial moisture conditions;
• layer thicknesses;
• slopes; and
• drain spacing and liner placement.

A Hydrological Evaluation Tool with Many Uses

Landfill closures

Use of the HELP model is required by the EPA to evaluate closure designs of hazardous and nonhazardous waste management facilities.

Design evaluation and permitting

More than 2,000 private engineering offices in more than a dozen countries use the model for landfill design evaluation and regulatory permitting actions. Over 200 offices of federal, state, and municipal governmental agencies use it for these purposes as well.

Training and research

This model is used for training and research at more than 50 universities.

Current Model HELP V4.0

The HELP model was developed for the EPA by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station. This was done under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to support RCRA and Superfund programs. The current version of the HELP model (Version 4.0) was developed by EPA ORD’s Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Management. The model applies to open, partially closed, and fully closed sites. Landfill systems can be modeled that include various combinations of:

• vegetation;
• cover soils;
• waste cells;
• lateral drain layers;
• low permeability barrier soils; and
• synthetic geomembrane liners.

The model calculates daily, monthly, annual, and average annual estimates. It estimates amounts of:

• runoff;
• evapotranspiration;
• drainage;
• leachate collection; and
• liner leakage.

Specifications

HELP v4.0 uses an Excel workbook with embedded macros to support the user interface. It has been tested for use in Excel 2007 (Windows operating system) and higher and works on 64-bit processers. HELP V4.0 requires that Microsoft Excel 2007 or higher is installed. This updated version of the software will run on 64-bit systems with Microsoft Excel software. 

Downloads

HELP Model 4.0.1 (zip)

HELP 4.0 User Manual