Title: Landfill site characterisation at Kham Bon village, Muang district, Khon Kaen province, NE Thailand

Authors: Udomporn Chuangcham, Wanpen Wirojanagud, Punya Charusiri, William Milne-Home, Rungruang Lertsirivorakul

Addresses: National Research Centre on Environmental and Hazardous Waste Management, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Faculty of Science and Technology, Phranakhon Rajabhat University, Bangkok 10220, Thailand. ' Research Centre for Environmental and Hazardous Substance Management, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Environmental Engineering, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand. ' Research Unit of Earthquake and Geology, Faculty of Science, Department of Geology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. ' National Centre for Groundwater Management, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia. ' Faculty of Technology, Department of Geotechnology, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand

Abstract: The aim of the study is to characterise the Kham Bon landfill site. Hydrogeological and geochemical surveys were conducted and four boreholes were drilled. The hydraulic properties of the aquifer were tested, and soil, surface water and groundwater samples were collected at various times in the year. The physical and chemical properties of the samples, especially heavy metals, were analysed. The results indicated that Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu and Zn occurred in significant concentrations in the soil. The concentrations of Pb, Fe and Mn are high in surface water and groundwater. Moreover, the groundwater chemistry of the shallow aquifer was characterised by high concentrations of some ions. The major factors controlling leachate production and migration in this area are the seasonal variations in precipitation, the site topography, which controls the runoff patterns, and the soil type, which affects infiltration and solute transport to the water table.

Keywords: site characterisation; Thailand; heavy metals; landfill sites; leachate; hazardous waste; precipitation; site topography; runoff patterns; soil type; surface water; groundwater chemistry; shallow aquifer.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2009.027398

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2009 Vol.4 No.3/4, pp.299 - 321

Published online: 22 Jul 2009 *

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