Title: Solid waste characterisation and the assessment of the effect of dumping site leachate on groundwater quality: a case study

Authors: S. Mohan, R. Gandhimathi

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India. ' Environmental and Water Resources Engineering Division, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India

Abstract: In this study, the characterisation of the solid waste and the effect of the leachate from the major dumping site in Perungudi, Chennai city, on groundwater is investigated. Various physical and chemical parameters were estimated: this includes pH, total hardness, electrical conductivity, and total dissolved solids, major cations such as Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, and K⁺, major anions such as NO₃²⁻, Cl⁻, and SO₄²⁻ and heavy metals such as Pb, Cu, Mn, Cd, Cr and Zn. Perungudi dumping site receives 1650 tonnes of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) daily from the Chennai Corporation. The leachate is a result of anaerobic decomposition of MSW. The results of the analysis of the groundwater samples showed that dumping site leachates constitute a serious threat to the local aquifers.

Keywords: MSW; municipal solid waste; leachate; heavy metals; groundwater quality; water quality; India; anaerobic decomposition; local aquifers; waste management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2009.024700

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2009 Vol.3 No.1/2, pp.65 - 77

Published online: 15 Apr 2009 *

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