Assessment of groundwater quality by unsaturated zone study due to migration of leachate from Abloradjei waste disposal site, Ghana

Abstract

Leachate generated by open solid waste disposal sites contains substances likely to contaminate groundwater. The impact of potential contaminants migrating from leachate on groundwater can be quantified by monitoring their concentration and soil properties at specific points in the unsaturated zone. In this study, physical and chemical analyses were carried out on leachate, soil and water samples within the vicinity of the municipal solid waste disposal site at Abloradjei, a suburb of Accra, Ghana. The area has seen a massive increase in population and the residents depend on groundwater as the main source of water supply. Results obtained indicate alkaline pH for leachate and acidic conditions for unsaturated zone water. High EC values were recorded for leachate and unsaturated zone water. Major ions (Ca 2? , Na ? , Mg 2? , K ? , NO 3 -, SO 4 2-, Cl -, PO 4 3were analysed in leachate, unsaturated zone water, soil solution and groundwater while trace metals (Al, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb) were analysed in both soil and extracted soil solution. Concentrations of major ions were high in all samples indicating possible anthropogenic origin. Mean % gravel, % sand, % clay, bulk density, volumetric water content and porosity were 28.8, 63.93, 6.6, 1 g cm -3 , 35 and 62.7 %, respectively. Distribution of trace elements showed Kd variation of Al [ Cu [ Fe [ Pb [ Zn in the order of sequential increasing solubility. It was observed that the quality of groundwater is not suitable for drinking.

Old Landfill Leachate and Municipal Wastewater Co-Treatment by Sequencing Batch Reactor Combined with Coagulation–Flocculation Using Novel Flocculant

“…High nitrate concentration in leachate could be attributed to the presence of household and agricultural wastes in a landfill. Phosphate is released in leachate mainly due to the degradation of organic matter that contain phospholipids and phosphoproteins and from the dumping of pesticide residues and phosphate fertilizers in landfill [39,40]. Fatta et al [39] reported phosphate concentration from an old landfill in Greece which varied from 9.7 to 16.8 mg/L.…”