Impact of leachate on groundwater pollution due to non-engineered municipal solid waste landfill sites of erode city, Tamil Nadu, India

Rajkumar Nagarajan,Subramani Thirumalaisamy,Elango Lakshumanan

doi:10.1186/1735-2746-9-35

Rajkumar Nagarajan, Subramani Thirumalaisamy + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1735-2746-9-35

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Abstract

Leachate and groundwater samples were collected from Vendipalayam, Semur and Vairapalayam landfill sites in Erode city, Tamil Nadu, India, to study the possible impact of leachate percolation on groundwater quality. Concentrations of various physicochemical parameters including heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Fe and Zn) were determined in leachate samples and are reported. The concentrations of Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, NH4+ were found to be in considerable levels in the groundwater samples particularly near to the landfill sites, likely indicating that groundwater quality is being significantly affected by leachate percolation. Further they were proved to be the tracers for groundwater contamination near Semur and Vendipalayam dumpyards. The presence of contaminants in groundwater particularly near the landfill sites warns its quality and thus renders the associated aquifer unreliable for domestic water supply and other uses. Although some remedial measures are suggested to reduce further groundwater contamination via leachate percolation, the present study demands for the proper management of waste in Erode city.

Highlights

Landfills have been identified as one of the major threats to groundwater resources (Fatta et al, [1]) in India but throughout the world (United States Environmental Protection Agency US EPA [2])
The total dissolved solids (TDS) (25514 mg/L), BOD (17,552 mg/L) and COD (25,102 mg/L) values were high in the leachate samples of Vendipalayam landfill during February
The concentrations of few contaminants did not exceed drinking water standard even the groundwater quality represent a significant threat to public health

Summary

Introduction

Landfills have been identified as one of the major threats to groundwater resources (Fatta et al, [1]) in India but throughout the world (United States Environmental Protection Agency US EPA [2]). More than 90% of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generated in India is directly dumped on land in an unsatisfactory manner (Chatterjee, [3]). The solid waste placed in landfills or open dumps are subjected to either groundwater underflow or infiltration from precipitation or any other possibility of infiltration of water. The liquid containing innumerable organic and inorganic compounds is called 'leachate'. This leachate accumulates at the bottom of the landfill and percolates through the soil and reaches the groundwater (Mor et al [4])

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