Leachate Characteristics and Evaluating Leachate Contamination Potential of Landfill Sites Using Leachate Pollution Index

Abstract

The developing and under developing countries hazardous industrial waste is also mixed with municipal solid waste (MSW). The dumping of MSW in uncontrolled landfills can cause major impact on human health and surrounding environment. Leachate is the main culprit, causing pollution of surface water bodies and ground water. Ground water once contaminated, is very difficult task to improve. The aim of research study is to determine the leachate characteristics of Alevoor landfill near Udupi, India. The pH of samples was 8.21 and 7.77 respectively. This paper also presents the leachate contamination potential of Alevoor landfill using Rand Corporation Delphi Technique. The leachate pollution index (LPI) represents the level of contamination potential of given landfill. LPI is a single number express the overall leachate contamination potential of landfill based on several leachate pollution parameters at a given time. The LPI is also used to compare the contamination potential of different leachate sampling stations of Alevoor landfill. The LPI values of the Alevoor landfill is significantly high and proper treatment is required before the discharge of the leachate.