Title: Evaluation of the leachate composition and contamination potential of municipal solid waste landfill sites in Delhi

Authors: Anshu Gupta; Paulraj Rajamani

Addresses: School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India ' School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India

Abstract: In order to assess the hazards of landfill emissions particularly leachates, it is very important to have information on various kinds of contaminants present in them. Present study has been carried out to examine the composition of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill leachates of the three major landfill sites in Delhi that are Okhala, Bhalaswa and Ghazipur and also to determine their leachate pollution index (LPI). Different physicochemical parameters of leachates were performed. Very high values of LPI were obtained for all the three sites, Bhalaswa having the highest followed by Ghazipur and Okhala indicating the comparative leachate pollution potential. Due to the absence of collection and treatment facilities, leachate is posing a potential threat to ground and surface water. These sites need immediate attention as well as action on a priority basis so that environmental hazards due to pollution caused by these sites should be prevented.

Keywords: municipal solid waste; MSW landfills; contaminants; ground water; surface water; water pollution; leachate pollution index; LPI; treatment facilities; pollution potential; environmental hazards; landfill emissions; Delhi; India; physicochemical parameters.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2016.081832

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2016 Vol.18 No.4, pp.285 - 302

Received: 14 Feb 2016
Accepted: 10 Jul 2016

Published online: 27 Jan 2017 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article