Forecasting leachate generation from pilot woodchip stockpiles using a three-dimensional transient flow model

Leachate generation from open stockpiles of recycled woodchip materials is potentially harmful to aquatic ecosystems. There is growing interest in using numerical models to simulate leachate generation from outdoor piles, but this requires information about the hydraulic properties of the materials. The objectives of this study were to simulate leachate from woodchip piles with the numerical model HYDRUS-3D and to optimize subsets of parameters for single (SPM) and dual (DPM) pore flow models with the Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm DREAMZS. Three experimental piles, each approximately 30 m3, were setup with mixtures of either once (coarse) or twice (fine) ground woodchips. Leachate continuously collected over a period of six months was similar across piles. As a result, subsets of optimized flow parameters for the coarse and fine woodchips were not different. Leachate predictions by the two pore flow models were similar and agreed reasonably with the field measurements, as indicated by Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency values greater than 0.6. This result suggests the simpler SPM is adequate for field predictions of leachate. However, leachate was consistently under-predicted by both pore models by 13–27% during rainfall events with more than 1 cm in 6 h. The optimized flow models can be used as a tool for studying pile management strategies. •Leachate measured over 6 months from field piles of once- and twice-ground woodchips.•Pile responses to natural rain were simulated with a 3-D model to predict leachate.•Parameters of single/dual pore functions of woodchips were optimized in the 3-D model.•The single pore flow model predicted leachate reasonably well for all field piles.•Optimized models could best predict leachate from storms under 1 cm of rain.