Characterization of Leachate and Groundwater in and Around Saduperi Municipal Solid Waste Open Dump Site, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

In India, a large portion of the landfill is open or unlined. The administration of municipal solid waste (MSW) requires proper infrastructure, upkeep in all actions. This turns out to be extremely costly and complex due to the unconstrained improvement of urban dominion. The landfill has been concerned with air contamination, soil contamination, surface and groundwater contamination. The origin of landfill gases is subjective to various factors such as the composition of solid waste product, decomposition of waste, oxygen availability, moisture and rain percolation, pH, organic amount and microorganism population. Dioxins are exceedingly dangerous and can cause reproductive and developmental problems. The waste put in the landfills influences the groundwater stream, and rainwater may permeate through the waste. The water gets mixed with organic and inorganic compounds and accumulated at the bottom of the landfill. The present study represents a real-time case study of a solid waste dump yard located at Saduperi, Vellore District, Tamil Nadu, India. Groundwater samples are collected in and around landfill site to analyse the possible impact of leachate on the quality of groundwater. Various physicochemical parameters and heavy metal concentration of groundwater and leachate sample are analysed and reported. Leachate analysis showed a neutral pH (7.4) and BOD concentration of 9100 mg/L. Total hardness and alkalinity were found to be 5500 and 10,000 mg/L, respectively. The chloride concentration was found to be higher (5317.5 mg/L). The concentration of heavy metals such as nickel, cadmium and chromium was found in concentrations of 0.05, 0.09 and 2.84 mg/L, respectively. Groundwater samples showed slightly acidic to neutral pH values with higher concentration in TDS (9690 mg/L) and chloride (2153 mg/L) parameters. Further leachate pollution index was calculated to know the potential of impact from the dump site leachate.