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Impact of Landfill Leachate on Surface and Ground Water Quality

Md. Lokman Hossain
Tropical and International Forestry, Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Geottingen, Geottingen, 37077, Germany.

Satyajit Roy Das
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh

Mohammed Kamal Hossain
Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Municipal landfills are considered a grave threat to their surrounding urban environments and a major source of pollution especially ground water contamination. To ascertain the magnitude of dumpsite pollution of surface and ground water during rainy and winter season an investigation on physical, chemical and bacteriological analyses of leachates of Rowfabad landfill at Chittagong, Bangladesh was carried out . Surface water samples were collected from distances of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 m, respectively away from the landfill. Groundwater samples were collected from 3 points within 0.30 km radius of the landfill. All the samples were analyzed for relevant physico- chemical and biological parameters according to internationally accepted procedures and standard methods. Concentration of DO was found very low (0.8 mg L^-1 in winter and 0.2 mg L^-1 in rainy season), while, BOD (550 mg L^-1 in winter and 216 mg L^-1 in rainy season) and COD (745 mg L^-1 in winter and 430 mg L^-1 in rainy season) were high in the leachate sample. The presence of faecal coliform in ground water (15/100 mL in winter and 71/100 mL in rainy season) was upsetting. The higher concentration of iron (3.26 mg L^-1 in winter and 2.61 mg L^-1 in rainy season) and arsenic (1.7 mg L^-1 in winter and 0.9 mg L^-1 in rainy season) in ground water were found alarming. Necessary steps should be taken by the authority to prevent further contamination from leachate.

Keywords: Municipal, Solid waste, Landfill, Leachate, Contamination of ground water,

Location: Rowfabad landfill, Chittagong City Corporation (CCC), Bangladesh.

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Quality and Nutrition

Commodity: Groundwater

Objectives:

To assess the physico-chemical and biological parameters of surface and ground water as affected by the leachate of a land fill during rainy and winter season.

Methodology:

The study was conducted at Rowfabad landfill in the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) of Bangladesh. There are 41 wards (administrative areas) in CCC. The study area selection was purposive. Sample water was collected in a 1 L plastic bottle and filled the total volume of the container and a cap was locked enough so that no air space can be remained inside the bottle. The plastic bottles were first washed thoroughly using detergent and dried. Before taking water, the bottles were rinsed with the water to be taken as sample. Water samples both surface water and ground water along with leachate were collected after some flush outs. After taking water samples, the bottles were labeled accurately by mentioning the name and location of the sample site, date and time of collection, etc. Surface water samples were collected from distances of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 m, respectively away from the landfill. To assess the extent of groundwater contamination, 3 sampling points were selected within 0.30 km radius of the landfill site from where the groundwater samples were taken. Samples were collected in clean 500 mL plastic bottles after the extraction of water either from a hand pump or a tube well. The water was left to run from the source for about 4 min to equate the minimum number of well volume and to stabilize the electrical conductivity. Since the landfill was not equipped with a leachate collection system, the leachate accumulating at the base of the landfill was sampled randomly from three different locations within the landfill and was mixed prior to analysis. The samples for microbiological analysis were aseptically taken in 50 mL sterile universal containers. Then the collected samples were shifted to the laboratory of the WASA, Dhaka, preserved in cool temperature for the testing. The testing of different parameters was done within the next 48 h which is recommended for better result in minimizing the quality change. All the samples were analyzed for relevant physico- chemical and biological parameters according to internationally accepted procedures and standard methods. The parameters analyzed on the surface and ground water and leachate samples include, Total Suspended Solid (TSS), turbidity, pH, electrical conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), chloride, nitrate, fluoride, arsenic, metal analysis and fecal Coliform bacteria count. Data was analyzed using MS Excel.

Source of Information: Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 7(6): 337-346, 2014, ISSN 1994-7887.

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: 10.3923/jest.2014.337.346; URL: http://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jest.2014.337.346

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

From the study it has observed that improper practices of solid waste management carried out at the Rowfabad landfill site and the inappropriateness of the leachate collection system and its treatment or recycling exert tremendous impact on the surface and ground water quality. Study findings revealed that, the groundwater is unacceptable for drinking water purposes and therefore puts emphasis on the call for better solid waste management practices and construct appropriately engineered sanitary landfill sites to restrict the contamination of groundwater.

Knowledge Management: Journal