STUDY OF GROUND WATER
CONTAMINATION DUE TO MUNICIPAL
SOLID WASTE DUMPING IN PUNE CITY
SUPRIYA P. KALE & PRAJAKTA E. WADKAR
Department of Civil, Rajarshi Shahu College Of Engineering, Pune- 411033.
Maharashtra. India.
INDEX
Sr.No. Particulars Page No.
1. Abstract 1
2. Introduction 2
3. Materials and Methods 3
4. Observations 4
5. Result and Discussions 5
6. Conclusion 7
7. References 8
STUDY OF GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION DUE TO
MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE DUMPING IN PUNE CITY
SUPRIYA P. KALE & PRAJAKTA E. WADKAR
Department of Civil, Rajarshi Shahu College Of Engineering, Pune- 411033. Maharashtra.
India.
ABSTRACT
Rapid industrialization, urbanization and population growth has resulted in huge
amount of solid waste generation in Pune city. Owing to infiltration of rain water, the
solid waste leachate produced at the dumping site ultimately find its way into the
ground water causing contamination. The quality of ground water available within
and near the municipal solid waste dumping yard in Pune city has been tested for the
possibility of contamination due to dumping of solid waste.A number of physico-
chemical characteristics of ground water samples were analysed so as to ascertain the
extent of ground water pollution by leachate.The results obtained from the analysis
showed that the concentration of most of the analysed chemical parameters refering to
the available ground water quality is beyond permissible limit .
Key Words :- Dumping yard, Ground water, Solid waste , Leachate ,
Contamination , Open dumping
INTRODUCTION:
The modern civilization accompanied by the rapid growth of population and
industrialization has created the situation of huge amount of solid waste generation in
cities and towns. All over the world today the cities are vexed with the problem of
disposal and management of generated solid waste, In Pune city the solid wastes are
collected, Transported and disposed at the dumping site by the Pune Municipal
Corporation (PMC) authority. The present dumping site at Katraj near Katraj dairy is
used by PMC authority.
The leachate is produced from the decomposition and squeezing of wastes and
by water that has entered the dumping site from external sources. It carries a number
of dissolved and suspected impurities as it moves down through the wastes. The
leachate generated from the MSW-Municipal Solid Waste dumping site can seep
slowly through the layers of soil beneath and percolates down to the ground water
rendering it unsuitable for the designated use(Todd,1995).The leachate pollution can
cover wide areas depending on the aquifer characteristics.
The contamination of ground water due to MSW material has been a
serious concern to us. The present study aims at evaluation of the ground water
quality at different distances of MSW dumping site at Katraj near Katraj Diary as
well as to ascertain the contamination of ground water due to MSW disposal.
MATERIALS AND METHODS :
For the present study of municipal solid waste , the Katraj dumping site near Katraj
dairy was selected. Five ground water samples were collected from different distances
within core zone (within 1km radius)of dumping sites. Sampling bottles were cleaned
with 10 % Nitric acid followed by distilled water to avoid accidental contamination.
After measuring physical parameters like pH, temperature, the samples collected from
the sampling sites were brought the laboratory for chemical analysis. Ground water
sources at different distances (within, 25m, 50m, 75m and 100 m) from the fringe of
the dumping site were selected for the study. The analysis was performed by
following standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater
( APHA,AWWA,WEF 20th edition).
O BSERVATIONS:
The following observations are taken in account throughout 6 months and taken only
for one site .
KATRAJ SITE NEAR KATRAJ DAIRY
Sr. Parameters Well located
No & Units within 25 m 50 m 75 m 100 m
dumping
yard
1. pH 8.2 8 7.4 7.3 7
2. Temperature 27 27 27 27 27
( °C )
3. Conductivity 990 980 975 962 953
( micro Scm -1)
4. Turbidity 4 4 3 3 3
( NTU )
5. D. O (mg/L) 4.0 4.3 4.8 5 5.2
6. TS (mg/L) 2350 2210 2100 1980 1851
7. TDS (mg/L) 1880 1751 1734 1689 1645
8. BOD (mg/L) 10.1 9.2 8.1 6.2 5.0
9. COD (mg/L) 30.3 27.6 24.3 18.6 15
10. Hardness 290 276 234 201 188
(mg/L of
CaCO3)
11. Calcium (mg/L) 80.1 74.8 60.3 58.6 50.2
12. Fluoride (mg/L) 2.6 1.5 0.9 0.5 0.2
13. Chloride(mg/L) 830 810 610 250 160
14. Nitrate(mg/L) 21 14 11 65 60
15. Phosphate 3.5 3.2 3.1 2.9 1.8
(mg/L)
16. Iron (mg/L) 7.0 6.2 5.3 5.0 4.3
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS:
The results give an insight into the ground water quality of collected samples.
All the samples were colourless and odourless. The pH values were measured
as 7 to 8.2 at this site. The pH is also temperature dependent and the overall average
temperature was 27 °C at the time of sample collection.
The turbidity of water samples were in the recommended limits.
The Total Solids (TS) and the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) concentration
decreased with the increase in distance of sample water sources from the dumping
site.
Dissolved Oxygen ( D.O) was observed in the range of 4 to 5.2 mg/L .The
values were below 5 mg/L for the nearest samples of the dumping site which clearly
indicate the pollution due to increased content of decomposable organic matter. D.O
is dependent on the physical, chemical and biological activities prevailing in the
water body and varies with the water temperature and altitudes.
The BOD value ranged from 5 to 10.1 mg/L . The experimental BOD values
were found to be beyond the permissible limits. The maximum limit of BOD is
2.0mg/L as stated by I.S 1983.More BOD value was obtained for the nearest samples
than the distant ones. This clearly indicates that the water sources are getting more
polluted which are close to the dumping sites. This may be due to the increased
leaching of organic materials from the dumping sites.
The maximum COD values were obtained for the nearest samples at the site
indicating contamination of ground water sources by relatively oxidizable organic
matter. It may be resulted from the percolation of leachates through the soil and
contamination with the ground water. The COD values were also found to be
decreased as the distance from the solid waste dumping yard increased.
The total hardness values were within the prescribed limit of 300 mg/L
according to I.S 1983.The total hardness is generally attributed by the calcium and
magnesium concentration.
The chloride concentration in samples were found to be in range 160 to 830
mg/L. The concentration of chloride in the samples were attributed by the dissolution
of chlorinated soluble salts present in solid waste leachate.
High fluoride content was found for the samples nearest to the dumping yards
and is beyond the prescribed limit of 0.6 to 1.2 mg/L as per I.S 1983.With increase in
distance from the dumping yard the fluoride concentration in ground water was found
to be decreased and is suitable for human consumption.
Some samples exceed the safe limit of nitrate concentration 20 mg/L for
public water supply set by ICMR ( Indian Council of Medical Research).the
concentration of nitrate and phosphate may have been attributed due to permeability
of the soil and the leachate produced from the dumping yard into the soil as well as
local factors like domestic sewage pollution etc contaminating the ground water
around the dumping yards.
The iron content was ranged from 4.3 to 7 mg/L. The experimental
concentration value of iron was beyond the limit of 0.3 mg/L as prescribed by ISI ,
ICMR for drinking water .
CONCLUSION :
The study gives an insight regarding the ground water quality at different distances
from the fringe of the municipal solid waste dumping yards in Pune city. It is
observed that most of the physico- chemical parameters analysed under the present
investigation have showed higher value for ground water collected from the Katraj
site near Katraj dairy.
It is also observed from the analysis that the ground water samples nearest the
dumping site was beyond the permissible limit and is not suitable for drinking
purpose. However, as the distance from the dumping site increased the concentration
of most of the parameters referring to the ground water quality were found to be
decreased for samples at the site. This reveals the fact that as the distance from the
fringe of the dumping yard increased , the contamination and the magnitude of
pollution decreased consequently . If necessary precautions are not taken while
dumping the MSW , interim damage to the natural resources can take place. Hence,
prevention of ground water pollution due to any cause plays significant role. In order
to avoid pollution of ground water sources due to infiltration of pollutants from the
leachate and as a precaution it is suggested to provide clay liner in the future prospect.
Proper management of municipal solid waste disposal system can be appreciably
reduce the contamination and also show the pathway to minimize the pollution of
ground water.
REFERENCES:
• APHA AWWA WEF 20th Edition. Standard methods for the examination of
water and waste water APHA USA
• Ground water pollution by leachate : A lab study. Poll Res. 24(3); 641-646
• Ground water pollution in Kanpur city by MSW : Journal of industrial
pollution control 16: 111-116 .
• Influence of municipal garbage disposal on shallow ground water- A case
study 285- 291
• Ground water contamination due to municipal garbage dumping – A
comparative study 67-71
• Ground water qualities in suburban regions of Madras city 325-328
• Supply of water quality at solid waste dumping yards in Vishakhapatnam
Journal of Industrial pollution control 253-265
• Todd, D.K 1995 Ground water Hydrology , 2nd Edition
• Assessment of ground water quality around a solid waste dump site .Nature
,Environment and pollution technology 411- 413
