Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Research Articles

Shotgun metagenomic analysis reveals the diversity of PHA producer bacterial community and PHA synthase gene in Addis Ababa municipal solid waste disposal area ‘Qoshe’

BackgroundPolyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are naturally produced biopolymers with significant scientific and biotechnological potential. This study aimed to investigate the diversity of the PHA-producing bacterial community and PhaC genes in soil samples collected from a municipal solid waste disposal site known as “Qoshe” in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, using a shotgun metagenomics approach. The SqueezeMeta pipeline was used to analyze the microbial community in the waste samples. A CD search against the TIGRFAM protein family database was performed to identify the complete-length multidomain sequences of PhaC genes and classify them into their respective classes. Statistical analysis and data visualization were performed using RStudio with R version 4.2.3.ResultsThe findings of this study suggest that known and unknown taxa likely contribute to the phaC genes of municipal solid waste. Taxonomic profiling of the metagenomic data revealed that the majority of the PHA-producing taxa belonged to the phylum Proteobacteria (80%), followed by Actinomycetota (16.5%). Furthermore, this study identified Thiomonas and unclassified Mycobacterium as the main contributors to class I PhaC genes. Class II PhaC genes are predominantly associated with the Pseudomonadaceae family, followed by unclassified Hyphomicrobials and Acidimicrobiales. Class III PhaC genes are abundantly related to the Methylococcaceae family, specifically the Methylocaldum genus. The analysis of PhaC gene sequences revealed high level of diversity, with a significant proportion of putative PhaC genes exhibiting low sequence identity with each other and PhaC gene in the database. Notably, the sequence variation observed within the same PhaC gene classes suggests the potential presence of previously unidentified PhaC gene variants.ConclusionsOverall, this research improves our understanding of the diversity of PHA-producing taxa and PhaC genes in municipal solid waste environments, providing opportunities for sustainable PHA production and waste management strategies. However, additional studies, including the isolation and characterization of specific strains, are necessary to confirm the PHA production capabilities of these strains and explore their biotechnological potential.

Spatial analysis to identify unauthorized municipal solid waste disposal sites in rural areas of southern Mexico.

The management of solid waste in rural areas of developing countries faces significant challenges due to economic constraints and irregular human settlements. These factors often lead to the creation of unauthorized disposal sites, which pose risks to human health, ecosystems and the economy. Remote sensing and geographic information system techniques provide a means to understand the complex issues associated with inadequate municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal. This study aimed to identify unauthorized disposal sites in the rural areas of southern Quintana Roo, Mexico, by examining land surface temperature (LST) and vegetation indices as potential indicators of unauthorized final disposal sites (FDSs). The findings reveal that 13% of the study areas have a high, moderate or low probability of hosting unauthorized disposal sites. Additionally, 3 authorized final disposal sites (FDSs) were confirmed, and 20 unauthorized sites were identified. LST and the normalized difference vegetation index were effective in detecting unauthorized sites, as these areas exhibited higher temperatures and less vigorous vegetation compared to adjacent areas. The results provide valuable insights into the issues associated with inadequate waste disposal in rural areas and offer information that can help optimize MSW management and mitigate its environmental and health impacts.

Environmental and Health Impacts Resulting From Burning Solid Waste Near Residential Areas in Diyala Governorate, Iraq

General Background: Rapid development, population growth, and improper disposal of municipal solid waste are prevalent issues in developing countries, leading to significant environmental and health challenges. Specific Background: In Iraq’s Diyala Governorate, the absence of integrated waste management exacerbates pollution through waste burning and heavy metal contamination, posing risks to nearby residential areas. Knowledge Gap: While previous studies have addressed waste management in developing countries, there is limited research on how local waste disposal practices impact air, soil, and water quality in specific areas of Diyala. Aims: This study evaluates the air quality and levels of heavy metals in soil and water near five landfill sites in Diyala Governorate: Kanaan, Al-Khalis, Baladruz, Khanaqin, and Hamrin, aiming to assess the pollution levels and the potential health risks to nearby communities. Results: The findings reveal significant differences across the sites, with the highest pollutant concentrations in Kanaan for air (40±445.8), soil (22.18±35.64), and water (3.037±3.146), while Hamrin recorded the lowest concentrations. All sites demonstrated statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). Novelty: This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the environmental impact of waste disposal practices in Diyala, linking pollutant concentrations with specific landfill sites. Implications: The results underscore the need for improved waste management strategies, including monitoring, waste sorting, and recycling initiatives, to mitigate the negative effects on public health and the environment, particularly in areas near waste dumps. Highlights: Pollution levels vary significantly across Diyala's landfill sites. Kanaan site has the highest air, soil, and water contamination. Better waste management is needed to reduce environmental and health risks. Keywords: Municipal waste, environmental pollution, heavy metals, Diyala Governorate, landfill impact

Rejuvenated end-of-life reverse osmosis membranes for landfill leachate treatment and reuse water reclamation

Landfills remain a prevalent method for municipal solid waste disposal, yet concerns persist regarding leachate generation and its environmental impact. This research paper investigates the reuse of end-of-life reverse osmosis membranes for treating landfill leachate (LL) after their rejuvenation. The rejuvenation process involved a specific chemical cleaning procedure that allows for permeability recovery without compromising the membrane rejection capacity when compared to o pristine reverse osmosis. It was also explored the hypothesis how previous membrane use affects the rejuvenation process by considering end-of-life membranes used for desalination of brackish water and treated water. While both could be effectively rejuvenated, those used for brackish desalination were more susceptible to irreversible fouling. In such cases, recycling the membrane and converting it to porous ultrafiltration or microfiltration membranes is recommended. For membranes previously used for treated water desalination, it was observed high efficiency in LL treatment across multiple filtration cycles. The average flux for these membranes corresponded to 6.9 ± 0.4 L/m2h (operating pressure: 10 bar), and the rejection were greater than 89.4 % for chemical oxygen demand and 98.6 % for color. In complement, it was investigated the contribution of pretreatment with ultrafiltration membranes. Ultrafiltration was effective in preventing membrane fouling and improving the physicochemical quality of reclaimed water from landfill leachate. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into the potential reuse of end-of-life reverse osmosis membranes from treated water desalination plant for LL treatment, contributing to sustainable waste management and wastewater treatment solutions.

Optimal Values of Power Equipment Parameters when Degassing of Solid Municipal Waste Polygons

The possibility of using the energy values of landfill gas to generate electrical and thermal energy based on a contact cogeneration gas turbine installation has been studied. The optimal values degree of increase pressure in the cycle are determined, which make it possible to determine the maximum specific electrical power and thermodynamic efficiency of a cogeneration gas turbine installation with steam injection, in which landfill gas from solid waste landfills is used as an energy carrier. It is concluded that using the proposed engineering solution, landfill gas from municipal solid waste can be usefully implemented in a cogeneration contact gas turbine installation, which will save the country's national wealth and at the same time solve pressing problems of modern cities associated with the disposal of municipal solid waste.

Scenedesmus sp. as a phycoremediation agent for heavy metal removal from landfill leachate in a comparative study: batch, continuous, and membrane bioreactor (MBR).

Improper disposal of municipal solid waste led to the release of heavy metals into the environment through leachate accumulation, causing a range of health and environmental problems. Phycoremediation, using microalgae to remove heavy metals from contaminated water, was investigated as a promising alternative to traditional remediation methods. This study explored the potential of Scenedesmus sp. as a phycoremediation agent for heavy metal removal from landfill leachate. The study was conducted in batch, continuous, and membrane bioreactor (MBR). In the batch system, Scenedesmus sp. was added to the leachate and incubated for 15days before the biomass was separated from the suspension. In the continuous system, Scenedesmus sp. was cultured in a flow-through system, and the leachate was continuously fed into the system with flow rates measured at 120, 150, and 180mL/h for 27days. The MBR system was similar to the continuous system, but it incorporated a membrane filtration step to remove suspended solids from the treated water. The peristaltic pump was calibrated to operate at five different flow rates: 0.24 L/h, 0.30 L/h, 0.36 L/h, 0.42 L/h, and 0.48 L/h for the MBR system and ran for 24h. The results showed that Scenedesmus sp. was effective in removing heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) from landfill leachate in all three systems. The highest removal efficiency was observed for Ni, with a removal of 0.083mg/L in the MBR and 0.068mg/L in batch mode. The lowest removal efficiency was observed for Zn, with a removal of 0.032mg/L in the MBR, 0.027mg/L in continuous mode, and 0.022mg/L in batch mode. The findings depicted that the adsorption capacity varied among the studied metal ions, with the highest capacity observed for Ni (II) and the lowest for Zn (II), reflecting differences in metal speciation, surface charge interactions, and affinity for the adsorbent material. These factors influenced the adsorption process and resulted in varying adsorption capacities for different metal ions. The study also evaluated the biomass growth of Scenedesmus sp. and found that it was significantly influenced by the initial metal concentration in the leachate. The results of this study suggest that Scenedesmus sp. can be used as an effective phycoremediation agent for removing heavy metals from landfill leachate.

Численное моделирование миграции фильтрационных вод от объектов размещения твердых коммунальных отходов через грунтовые защитные сооружения

The paper studies numerically he processes of pollutant migration from the municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill and discusses the obtained results. Pollution of the natural environment with residues of substances and products resulting from the human household and industrial activities is one of the most urgent problems both in Russia and all over the world. In economically developed countries, in which waste management strategies are implemented to minimize garbage accumulation, priority is given to neutralization and recycling technologies, The beneficial effect of such strategy is a significant reduction of the waste volume. In Russia, despite the positive dynamics in the use of new waste management technologies, the main method of their treatment is disposal at MSW landfills. On the territory of Russia, along with the MSW landfills operated and built in accordance with environmental requirements, there are a large number of unauthorized landfills, which are of serious hazard to the environment. This raises the question of assessing the impact of such facilities on the environment. To study the characteristics of the pollutant distribution and determine the waste migration parameters, the archival data from a set of field and laboratory studies in the area of the existing MSW disposal site were used. A numerical model was constructed to describe the hydrodynamics of the migration of substances in the soil and soil layer forming the base of a solid waste disposal facility. The process of pollutant spreading is described in terms of dry residue. The model takes into account such factors as convective transport, diffusion and geological composition of the base of the waste disposal site, which have a significant impact on the pollutant migration.

Identification of municipal solid waste disposal sites for sustainable solid waste management in Cooch Behar Municipality, West Bengal: A RS-GIS based MCDA approach

The proper disposal of solid waste represents one of the most intricate environmental challenges encountered by the municipalities of West Bengal. The municipality of Cooch Behar, a rapidly developing part of the Koch Bihar district of West Bengal, was selected as a case study. A health and environmental threat is created by the disposal of solid waste from the municipality area in an open place in Guriahati G.P., 6 km from the town and near the Torsa River. This study aimsto identify the most suitable areas for the disposal and dumping of municipal solid waste. Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process, the weights of the seventeen causative factors were allocated based on their relevance to identify the appropriate locations. The present study also introduces an innovative methodology employing GIS-based sensitivity analyses to enhance the optimisation of factors influencing suitable solid waste disposal site selection. Three possible waste disposal sites have been identified based on low land costs, the availability of barren land and the distance to settlements and sensitive places. The area under the ROC curve reveals that the AUC value is 0.895, which indicates that the level of accuracy of the model is 89.50 %. With a weight of 0.184, land value was found to be the most important criterion in the model, followed by distance to settlement (0.135) and distance to road (0.123). By carefully choosing suitable locations, this research could assist urban planners in developing a waste management system that is resilient and environmentally sustainable.

Optimal landfill site selection through the application of GIS analysis & geotechnical investigation

ABSTRACT Disposal of municipal solid waste is a significant environmental issue that has detrimental effects on both the environment and human life. The selection of landfill sites is critical and essential to implementing a comprehensive waste management strategy. This study optimizes the selection of landfill sites in Kuwait through the use of overlay analysis and Geographic Information System in conjunction with multi-criteria decision analysis. The study analysis takes into account human, physical economical, environmental, and governmental factors. Seven optimal locations are depicted on the resulting suitability map, each occupying 10 square kilometres or more and have the capacity to handle solid waste for at least one decade per site, considering the current reported waste generation rate. Furthermore, results of a preliminary geotechnical investigation encompassing field and laboratory tests conducted on soil samples collected at one of the proposed sites are presented. The characterization of the retrieved samples included major geotechnical parameters that are of concern in landfill design and siting studies. The results indicate that the soil at the proposed site exhibited low values of hydraulic conductivity, ranging between 3.50 X 10−07 and 8.96 X 10−08 cm/sec, confirming its suitability for siting landfills. There is an urgent need to develop and implement an integrated waste management system in Kuwait. By leveraging the findings of this study, policymakers and governmental authorities can optimize their decision-making procedures to ensure more effective site selection. This approach will significantly reduce contamination risks and enhance sustainability, leading to a more environmentally responsible waste management system in the country.

Assessment of 150 TPD mechanical biological treatment (MBT) based municipal solid waste treatment and disposal facility

Assessment of 150 TPD mechanical biological treatment (MBT) based municipal solid waste treatment and disposal facility

Investigation of the impact of municipal solid waste disposal site leachate on surface water resources in Hosanna Town, Ethiopia.

Surface water resources are the most precious, yet they are also the most vulnerable to pollution. Consequently, maintaining the sustainability of water supplies is critical for livestock support to achieve SDG goals. Landfill leachate poses a significant threat to water resources in developing countries. This study aims to determine how the Hosanna town landfill site affects the Jewie River by analysing the quality of the Alela and Ajew streams and the landfill leachate in both wet and dry seasons. Furthermore, assess the suitability of the water quality for agricultural purposes. The leachate pollution index (LPI), Canadian Council Member of the Environment Water Quality Index (CCMEWQI), and irrigation water quality indices (IWQI) were computed for both seasons using two composite leachate samples and five flow-pace composite river samples. In the wet season, the leachate pollution indices for L1 and L2 ranged from 20.87 to 22.47, respectively. During the dry season, the leachate pollutant index of L1 and L2 was found to be 24.42 and 27.98. Only the Ajew River stream was affected during the dry season because the landfill site is only 46m away. Both the Ajew and Alela River streams are infested during the rainy season. Irrigation index concentrations revealed that the river water is suitable for cultivation. The early stages of landfill waste maturation are evident from the LPI results. Relocating the dump site is necessary to safeguard water resources because leachate has entered the river streams.

Applicability assessment of a plasma melting technology for a fly ash recycling system in the Republic of Korea

ABSTRACT The Ministry of Environment of Korea has proposed a ban on landfill disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) from 2026. Thus, it is inferred that the amount of incineration ash will increase drastically. Against this backdrop, this study assessed the applicability of a plasma melting process to fly ash. Fly ash was collected from 14 incineration facilities to analyze its basic properties and perform melting experiments. Furthermore, scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis and economic feasibility assessment were conducted. The molten fly ash slag exhibited a pH value of 9.9, and the ignition loss of fly ash was found to range from 14.5 to 25.7 wt.%. None of seven toxic elements (arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cyanide (CN), mercury (Hg), hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), copper, and lead (Pb)) was detected from the molten slag. In addition, 99.3 wt.% of chloride ion (Cl−), 97.9 wt.% of fluoride ion (F−), and 98.1 wt.% of sulphate ion (SO4 2−) were removed. The contents in the molten slag were found to be 0.19, 7.8, 27.8, 33.1, and 38 mg/kg for Cd, Pb, zinc, nickel, and F, respectively, and none of CN, Hg, and As was detected, thereby meeting the criteria for soil pollution. All of the environmental standards were met, and SEM analysis confirmed stable quality with high density and no surface pore. In the economic feasibility assessment, a profit of approximately 152.4 $/ton was also estimated compared to landfill disposal.

Human Health Impact of Municipal Solid Waste Mismanagement: A Review

Management of municipal solid waste (MSW) is frequently not properly performed. Whenever this happens, those working in the different stages of the process, as well as residents close to the dumps, face health risks. Here, we revised the documented evidence of emissions liberated during MSW management and associated health problems to investigate if systematic and reproducible relationships can be established. Besides substances released during collection and transportation, various toxic substances, predominantly in small amounts, can be released in the leachate and the biogases liberated in the disposal of MSW. Activities in the dump produce fine and coarse particles that are dispersed through the air and can enter the respiratory system, causing a series of adverse health effects, as shown by an increase in the demand for health services and the presence of respiratory symptoms and exacerbations of chronic processes. On the contrary, all the studies on the risk of developing some form of cancer by populations living in the vicinity of a waste dump have not been able to conclusively identify a causal or even circumstantial relationship that such a risk exists. Besides, no systematic association between residence near a landfill and any adverse outcome of childbirth has been found. However, the assessment of potential health effects is uncertain because of their diversity, the varied means of exposure, the uncertainty associated with exposures to low amounts of toxins when they occur over long periods, the potential synergies of various pollutants, the difficulty in establishing direct relationships between the toxicants emitted and health problems, the necessary arbitrariness in the delimitation of the dispersion area of the toxics and the practical impossibility of identifying other sources of exposure that could have some share of responsibility in the emerging health, as well as the lack of control of confounding factors like social deprivation, the lack of data on migrations to or from the most critical areas that affect exposure times or considerations about latency periods in pathologies such as cancer that does not usually manifest until years after exposure.

Physicochemical and Biological Properties of Land and Water Bodies Surrounding Major Dumpsites in Kolkata

In this paper we have investigated the data acquired from the analysis of the soil and water samples from and around the dump sites in Kolkata and North 24 Paragana district of West Bengal where the population density is extremely high. The treatment of disposal of municipal solid wastes and waste water has been inadequate to negligible in these areas and as a result the quality of soil and water bodies is subject to deterioration. We have made use of GPS enabled Satellite acquired images and its associated softwares to identify and demarcate the areas that come under the direct impact of the dumping sites, and which ultimately are the areas prone to diseases and degradation in the coming years. The pH, salinity, Total Dissolved Solvents and oxidation reduction potential has been investigated for the basic characterization of the samples. An estimate of heavy metals has also been made. Estimation of salts and oxides from the various sediments and soil samples were acquired. Identification of bacteria, under the purview of biological studies and the dependence of their growth on physiochemical parameters of the surrounding has portrayed an alarming result. Adjacent to these areas there are agricultural fields where leached water from the dumping site directly drain into and cause biomagnifications. Contamination of the ground water is also sizable. This research will help to control pollution and biological outbreaks as well as suggest areas where immediate care should be taken to set up environmental restoration. The findings of the paper will further enlighten the planning and designing of waste disposal in urban areas and assist in its policy making in urban areas and thereby improve the quality of life of the scavengers who are left to equate their survival with the garbage mounds.

Does upgrading household consumption affect the eco-efficiency of China's solid waste management as measured by emissions?

Municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal leads to environmental pollution, including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Waste generated by consumption is an integral part of MSW management. Based on the meta-frontier super SBM-data envelopment analysis (DEA) (MF-SSBM-DEA) model, this study evaluates the eco-efficiency of MSW management in 30 provinces in China from 2006 to 2021, especially considering the undesirable output of GHG emissions. This study compares the heterogeneity of the performance of MSW management in different regions and explores the factors that influence the differences in its efficiency. In particular, this study uses the panel Tobit model to explore the impact of upgrading household consumption on the eco-efficiency of MSW management at two levels: consumption scale (CSC) and consumption structure (CST). In addition, we examined other socioeconomic influencing factors. The results indicate that the average eco-efficiency in 2021 was 21.5% higher than in 2006. The expansion of the CSC reduces eco-efficiency, whereas the upgrading of CST improves eco-efficiency greater than the expansion of the CSC. In addition, improvements in the industrial structure and economic development (ED) contribute to the eco-efficiency of MSW management.

Investigation of odor pollution by utilizing selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) and principal component analysis (PCA).

Odor pollution, also referred to as odor nuisance, is a growing environmental concern that is significantly associated with mental health. Once emitted into the air, the concentration of odorous substances varies considerably with wind conditions, leading to difficulties in timely sampling. In the present study, we employed selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) to measure 22 odor-producing molecules continuously in an urban-rural complex city. In addition, we applied statistical analyses, principal component analysis (PCA), and a conditional probability function (CPF) to the datasets obtained from SIFT-MS to identify the odor characteristics at two study sites. At site A, odorants related to livestock farming and industry showed high factor loadings on principal components (PCs) from the PCA. In contrast, we estimated that the odorous gaseous chemicals affecting site B were closely related to sewage treatment and municipal solid waste disposal. Similar CPF patterns of grouped substances from the PCA supported the association between potential odor sources and specific odorants at site B, which helped estimate possible source locations. Consequently, our findings indicate that continuous monitoring of odorous substances using SIFT-MS can be an effective way to provide sufficient information on odor-producing molecules, leading to the clear identification of odor characteristics despite the high variability of odorous substances.

Valuing the Disamenity of Open Dumpsites: A Sri Lankan Case Study

Disposal of municipal solid waste in open dumpsites remains widespread throughout the developing world. While harm to local environments and public health may seem apparent, the lack of credible estimates of damages from open dumpsites is a major reason for their continued use. This paper estimates the disamenity damages imposed by an open dumpsite in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on nearby property owners using hedonic regression methods and a novel data set collected for the purpose. We find that property values increase by 10% for every additional 100 m of distance from the edge of the dumpsite and thus provide the first credible estimate of costs imposed by open dumping in a developing country. As open dumpsites are often sited in less affluent areas, our results suggest that such sites are likely exacerbating urban inequities in urban agglomerations across the developing world.

Assessing the impacts and contamination potentials of landfill leachate on adjacent groundwater systems

Landfilling is a globally prevalent method for managing municipal solid waste disposal. Nonetheless, the potential for serious contamination and the significant regional disparities in the leachate produced pose varying degrees of risks to groundwater quality. Previous studies have focused on a single landfill or the same geo-climatic conditions, with a limited number of samples having resulted in a narrow distribution of landfill age and scale, which prevents the description of the pattern of change in landfill age and scale. As well as the effect of this change on the contaminants in the landfill leachate and surrounding groundwater is still unclear. Therefore, we sampled and analyzed leachate and surrounding groundwater from 62 landfills with different landfill ages, scales, and operating conditions in a region with dense and varied topography and climate. Aim to explore the effects of different landfill ages, scales, and operating conditions on contaminants in leachate and surrounding groundwater. Findings indicate that pollutant profiles in different media are influenced by the age, scale, and operational status of the landfill, and the impact of leachate on pollutant types and concentrations in groundwater is limited. A significant correlation exists between the concentration of contaminants in the groundwater affected by leaching from the impermeable layer and the age and scale of the landfill when compared to the leachate. The contamination potentials posed by different pollutants vary across environmental media. Total dissolved solids and NH4+-N in leachate presented high contamination potentials, whereas elemental metalloids (Mn, Al, Ba, and Fe) in the surrounding groundwater posed high environmental concerns. These insights furnish new avenues for monitoring, identification, and safeguarding against pollutants in landfills and proximate groundwater, which is imperative for the sustainable management of municipal waste.

Prophet time series modeling of waste disposal rates in four North American cities.

In this study, three different univariate municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal rate forecast models (SARIMA, Holt-Winters, Prophet) were examined using different testing periods in four North American cities with different socioeconomic conditions. A review of the literature suggests that the selected models are able to handle seasonality in a time series; however, their ability to handle outliers is not well understood. The Prophet model generally outperformed the Holt-Winters model and the SARIMA model. The MAPE and R2 of the Prophet model during pre-COVID-19 were 4.3-22.2% and 0.71-0.93, respectively. All three models showed satisfactory predictive results, especially during the pre-COVID-19 testing period. COVID-19 lockdowns and the associated regulatory measures appear to have affected MSW disposal behaviors, and all the univariate models failed to fully capture the abrupt changes in waste disposal behaviors. Modeling errors were largely attributed to data noise in seasonality and the unprecedented event of COVID-19 lockdowns. Overall, the modeling errors of the Prophet model were evenly distributed, with minimum modeling biases. The Prophet model also appeared to be versatile and successfully captured MSW disposal rates from 3000 to 39,000 tons/month. The study highlights the potential benefits of the use of univariate models in waste forecast.

Assessing groundwater quality dynamics in Madhya Pradesh: Chemical contaminants and their temporal patterns

Groundwater is essential for maintaining ecosystem health and overall well-being as a pivotal resource for plants and animals. The increasing public consciousness of the deterioration of groundwater quality has emphasized the significance of undertaking extended evaluations of groundwater water quality, particularly in regions undergoing substantial hydrological alterations. This study primarily aims to investigate the spatio-temporal variations in groundwater quality and evaluate its suitability for potable purposes in the region of Madhya Pradesh. The study combines the Mann-Kendall (MK) test and Sen's Slope (SS) to analyze the changes in groundwater quality of all 51 districts of Madhya Pradesh, India, utilizing 12 water quality indices using MATLAB. Data was sourced from the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) in India from the year 2001–2021. The data was then tested for homogeneity at all 1154 sampling stations using the software XLSTAT. Piper plot clustering characterized the state's groundwater as bicarbonate-calcium-magnesium (HCO3−-Ca2+-Mg2+) type. The study found that the groundwater in the area is heavily impacted by high levels of nitrate and hardness, which is caused by an increase in multivalent cations. The water was classified as ranging from hard to extremely hard, and approximately 25.49% of the state's groundwater has nitrate levels that exceed the acceptable limits. The MK test showed a significant increasing correlation in trends for parameters such as nitrate, sulfate, fluoride, chloride, bicarbonate, total hardness, and electrical conductivity. It also showed a significant decreasing correlation for calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. These results were observed at a confidence level of 95%. The analysis of trends has shown that human-related factors have a considerable effect on the characteristics of groundwater quality. It is therefore recommended that such human-related factors be taken into consideration when developing policies for managing groundwater resources. Consequently, these policies should emphasize the strict enforcement of rules and standards that limit the overuse of fertilizers, ensure the appropriate disposal of municipal solid and liquid wastes, and regulate industrial pollutants.