PHYSICOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF LEACHATE NEAR THREE MAJOR LANDFILL SITE OF DELHI, INDIA

Abstract

Landfills are an indispensable part of everyday living; they may pose long-term threats to groundwater as well as surface waters that are hydrologically connected and invariably with Yamuna River too. Leachate is generated from the garbage decomposition as well as precipitation which infiltrates and percolates throughout the waste material volume and settles down to the bottom of the landfill and generates chemical reaction as well as physical mixing together with ingredients that found in the subjected waste. Leachate commonly has high level of toxic compounds concentration together with matter of organic, heavy metals and ammonium. This leachate accumulates at the bottom of the landfill and percolates to ground water through the soil. Thus the inappropriate geological material under the landfill is the main cause of risk of leachate leakage to the groundwater. A long term humans health issues may be caused by heavy metals and toxic materials in leachate Waste placed in landfills or open dumps are subjected to either groundwater underflow or infiltration from precipitation. In recent decades, groundwater resources have become increasingly threatened by the leaching of contaminants from uncontrolled landfills, containing industrial and/or household wastes. Therefore, a periodic assessment is essential to ascertain the quality of leachate percolating to groundwater to be used for human consumption.