Study of soil properties affected by leachate – A case study at Urali-Devachi, Pune, India

Abstract

Landfill leachate is created via decomposition of landfill waste transported by water percolation through the soil layers. If the landfill sites are not designed properly then the leachate simply passes through the soil layers. This may create an adverse effect on the engineering properties of soil, as well as on the chemical properties viz. adsorption and retention of heavy metals. In the present study, an experimental work was carried out to examine the effects of landfill leachate contamination on the soil properties viz. physiochemical and geotechnical of an active Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) dumping site located near Pune city, India. The soil samples were collected from three different locations (at 150 m spacing) and leachate was collected from the treatment plant, located in the premises of the dumping site. The test result shows that the leachate containing the highest concentration of metals, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). The soil sample in close proximity to the MSW dumpsite is most contaminated as compared to the furthermost soil samples, because of the high contents of organic pollutants and heavy metals. The present study clearly indicates that if the leachate is permitted to drain straightway into the surface water or infiltrates in to the groundwater it can cause adverse effect on human health and environment.