Abstract
Disposal sites without adequate engineering controls pose a significant risk to the environment. In the present study, the environmental hazards of an abandoned and unrecultivated liquid waste disposal are investigated with a special focus on soil and shallow groundwater contamination. After a period of operation from 1994 to 2010, when the wastewater collection of the municipality was regulated, the disposal site was subsequently decommissioned without further action. Eight monitoring wells have been established in the disposal basins and in the surrounding area to determine the contamination of the site. Sampling took place in the summers of 2020 and 2021. The results of the analysis of the soil and water samples collected showed a high level of contamination in the area. In the borehole profile of the infiltration basin, a well-developed leachate nitrate profile was observed, with a concentration above 3000 mg/kg NO3−. The soil phosphate content was also significant, with a value of over 1900 mg/kg in the upper 40 cm layer. Extremely high concentrations of ammonium (>45 mg/L) and organic matter (>90 mg/L) were detected in the groundwater of the basins, indicating that contaminated soil remains a major source of pollutants more than 10 years after closure. For all micro- and macroelements present in detectable concentrations, a significant increase was observed in the infiltration basin. Our results have revealed that the surroundings are also heavily contaminated. NO3− concentrations above the contamination limit were measured outside the basins. Recultivation of liquid waste disposal sites of similar characteristics is therefore strongly recommended.
Highlights
Inadequate or non-existent wastewater collection and treatment has resulted in considerable contamination of soil and groundwater resources [1,2,3]
A longitudinal cross section was created for each basin
The cross section of the central stem of the second basin shows that the walls of the basin are steep on both sides, without significant second basin shows that the walls of the basin are steep on both sides, without significant accumulation
Summary
Inadequate or non-existent wastewater collection and treatment has resulted in considerable contamination of soil and groundwater resources [1,2,3]. During the last few decades, dump sites without adequate engineering controls were used as the final disposal sites for different types of waste, such as solid and liquid municipal or industrial waste [9,10,11]. These sites often operated without environmental permits and illegally, while the authorities failed to take action to ensure proper operation [12,13]
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