Assessment of effectiveness of leachate control measures adopted by the GHMC at the Jawaharnagar dump yard, Hyderabad.

Abstract

To address the problems posed by hitherto un-scientific method of dumping un-segregated solid waste at the Jawaharnagar dump yard (JDY) recently Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) adopted certain measures to scientifically process the waste at the JDU; this involves extraction of RDF and manure at various stages besides obtaining mostly inert material for final land filling. The leachate obtained during the process is separately collected and treated at the site. This study aims to check the effectiveness of these measures in controlling the leachate to the surrounding aquifer as groundwater plays a significant role in sustainable use of water resources. Groundwater samples are collected from the surrounding region and analyzed for TDS, TH, chlorides, fluorides besides PH once before the monsoon and once after the monsoon. From the results it can be shown that leachate pollution of groundwater is still a problem. When compared with the groundwater quality data in the literature taken before the recent GHMC measures, the latest data shows marginal improvement as the legacy leachate from the previous landfill nearby continues to pollute the groundwater in the vicinity of the dump yard.