Abstract
Physiochemical assessment of leachate in three open dumpsites in Oluku, Uselu and New Benin in Benin City was carried out in this study using standard methods. The pH of leachate sample from Oluku dumpsite was ultra-acidic (3.4) with electrical conductivity of 1650 μS/cm. However pH of leachate samples (7.4 and 8.6) collected from Uselu Market dumpsite and New Benin dumpsite were in the alkaline range with electrical conductivity of 8600 and 9800 μS/cm. The aforementioned approach was employed at distances of 2m and 5m from the mid-sections of these dumpsites and pH of leachate at a distance of 5m from the three were observed to be in the neutral range. The physiochemical analysis indicated the hazards of open waste dumping, as leachate in these dumping sites contains ammonia, calcium carbonate, nitrate, sulphate and other heavy metals which can percolate and contaminate surface water and ground water thereby, causing negative effects on public health safety and the environment. Keywords : Leachate, Open dumpsites, Organic wastes, Contaminants.
Highlights
Waste can be regarded as unwanted or unusable material that cannot meet its primary function as well the needs of the owner and disposed of
The R3 (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) system of waste management is one of the most effective methods of managing different types of waste, but this system is rarely applied in Nigeria (Awopetu et al, 2012), rather, waste management characterized by open dumping, open dumpsites, indiscriminate disposal of waste materials by the road side and even disposal near drinking water sources is the common means of waste disposal (Joseph et al, 2016; Ochuko, 2014; Abdullahi et al, 2014; Emankhu and Yamusa, 2017)
In Benin City, Uselu market and New Benin dumpsites are both located near market premises where most of the items sold are organic-based unlike Oluku dumpsite which is located near commercial and residential area
Summary
Waste can be regarded as unwanted or unusable material that cannot meet its primary function as well the needs of the owner and disposed of. The R3 (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) system of waste management is one of the most effective methods of managing different types of waste, but this system is rarely applied in Nigeria (Awopetu et al, 2012), rather, waste management characterized by open dumping, open dumpsites, indiscriminate disposal of waste materials by the road side and even disposal near drinking water sources is the common means of waste disposal (Joseph et al, 2016; Ochuko, 2014; Abdullahi et al, 2014; Emankhu and Yamusa, 2017) This practice leads to environmental dilapidation as well as the formation of leachate, a black liquid containing organic and inorganic chemicals, heavy metals as well as pathogens, which can pollute groundwater and surface water causing public health risks.
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